US launches new strikes on key Iranian island as Tehran weighs proposals to end war

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in The US military launched fresh but limited strikes in Iran late on Friday, targeting an air defence system, according to president Donald Trump. Iranian media reported that two explosions were heard around the Suza area of Qeshm, a critical island along the main international shipping corridor for oil.

Speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening, Mr Trump characterised the military engagement as minor. "They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five," he said. Mr Trump offered no further details regarding the target. The operation followed what the US military described as “defensive strikes” conducted on Monday. Explosions were recorded on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, as well as near the mainland port city of Bandar Abbas.

The latest military action was the first since Mr Trump’s Republican Party suffered significant defeats in Tuesday’s US midterm elections. The setback, which saw Republicans lose control of both chambers of Congress, was fuelled by voter frustration over the war and rising fuel prices, a consequence of the conflict. Since the election results, Mr Trump’s public statements have shifted between threats to "destroy" Iran and claims that a resolution to the conflict could be close.

Earlier on Friday, two Middle Eastern government officials said Iran’s leadership was reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar intended to resolve differences with Washington regarding Tehran ’s nuclear programme. However, one official emphasised that Iranian authorities remained unwilling at present to enter direct negotiations with the Trump administration unless the US agreed to fundamental conditions demanded by Tehran as part of any potential ceasefire.

Disagreements over Iran’s nuclear programme remain the most contentious issue, which Mr Trump insists must be settled before any agreement to end the eight-month-old US-Israeli war against the Mideastern country can be reached. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the sensitive negotiations publicly. The White House declined to comment on the proposals presented by Qatar, although Mr Trump noted to reporters earlier on Friday that mediation efforts were still active.

"We are talking to Iran. We have been," Mr Trump said, claiming the US military remained in full control of the conflict against a weakened Iran. Tehran, however, continues to demand major concessions from Washington. Its core prerequisites include an end to the US blockade on Iranian ports, the lifting of sanctions, the unfreezing of assets, compensation for damage caused by the war and a general cessation of hostilities across the region, particularly the Israeli military offensive in Lebanon .

According to regional officials, mediators and Iranian authorities have discussed a potential short-term bridge agreement designed to pave the way for formal talks on Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. The proposal, recently submitted to both parties by Qatari negotiators, outlines confidence-building measures to be carried out over a two-day period. Under the terms, the US would lift its maritime blockade and release a portion of the billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets seized during years of American efforts to isolate the country.

In return, Tehran would permit International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors access to its nuclear facilities bombed by the US and Israel . On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a modified arrangement between Iran and Oman. That mechanism would serve as a temporary measure until a permanent agreement governing the waterway could be established alongside other Gulf states. If implemented, the two sides would then enter broader negotiations addressing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and other facets of its nuclear programme.

Iran maintains that its nuclear developments are intended purely for peaceful purposes. The IAEA estimates that Iran currently possesses 441kg of uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short technical step from the 90 per cent threshold required for weapons-grade material. Diplomatic communications have intensified in recent days, with telephone calls between leaders across the Persian Gulf and beyond aimed at calming regional volatility.

Concerns persist that Mr Trump could still direct the US military to launch further attacks against Iranian targets. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth spoke on Friday with his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, to discuss regional developments, according to officials in Doha. The Qatari government confirmed the meeting following an earlier announcement that Mr Trump and the Emir of Qatar had held a separate call to discuss de-escalation strategies.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi also held discussions on Friday with his counterparts in Iraq and Tunisia. Mr Araghchi and Iraqi foreign minister Fuad Hussein discussed Tehran’s outline for resuming negotiations with Washington, according to the Iraqi News Agency. Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty, who spoke with Mr Araghchi twice this week, wrote on X on Friday that both sides must show "flexibility" to reach the necessary compromises to prevent further escalation.

Mr Abdelatty also held a call with UAE foreign minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to reinforce the need for diplomatic channels to avert another military confrontation.