West Palm Beach, Nov 07 (V7N)- US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces carried out a new, limited military strike against Iran’s air defence system on Qeshm Island, while claiming that significant progress has been made in negotiations with Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday (November 6), Trump said US forces had destroyed a newly established Iranian air defence installation. He claimed the operation took between five and 15 minutes.

“We do minor strikes. They had built a little system for air defence. We knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,” Trump said.

Shortly before his remarks, Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which lies near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a major route for international energy shipments.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, citing the country’s military, also reported that Iranian air defence forces had detected and shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the island. The claim has not been independently verified.

Following reports of explosions on Qeshm, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the situation as “relatively calm”. A CENTCOM official told Al Jazeera that the command was aware of the reports but declined to provide further details.

Late on Friday, CENTCOM also announced a reward of up to $20 million, along with possible relocation, for information about Iran’s nuclear programme. The offer covers information on nuclear facilities, equipment, associated personnel—including scientists and researchers—and the movement of related materials.

Earlier on Monday, Iranian media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island, while US media reported that American forces had conducted what officials described as defensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest operation marks another limited US military action in the area.

Talks with Tehran continue

Trump repeatedly said on Friday that his administration was communicating with Iranian representatives and that Tehran wanted to reach an agreement.

“We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal,” he said, adding that “we’ve made a lot of progress with Iran”. He did not disclose details of the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Qatar has rejected reports that negotiations between Washington and Tehran have failed. On Saturday, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a post on X that claims suggesting the talks had collapsed were false and misleading.

He said spreading such reports would benefit those seeking to prolong the conflict and destabilise the region.

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, said during a public discussion at Oxford University on Friday that mediation efforts were continuing to prevent a wider regional conflict.

He said Qatar had been working with officials in the US administration for several weeks to contain the crisis and reduce tensions. He also expressed confidence that efforts by officials in Washington and what he described as prudent voices in Tehran had helped prevent further escalation.

Trump’s position shifts after midterm setback

Friday’s strike came after Trump’s Republican Party suffered significant losses in Tuesday’s US midterm elections, with Democrats securing major gains in Congress. Trump has blamed the Iran war, in part, for the election setback.

Since the elections, Trump has alternated between issuing military warnings against Iran and suggesting that a diplomatic resolution may be within reach.

On Thursday, he warned that the United States might have to “destroy” the rest of Iran, adding that people would “know soon enough” if he decided to take such action.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed Pentagon officials and military commanders, that US forces were prepared to resume major military operations against Iran if Trump gave the order. The report said thousands of aircraft and naval personnel, along with more than a dozen warships, were positioned at military bases in the Middle East and the United States.

Tehran has also stepped up diplomatic efforts amid the renewed US military threats. The situation remains marked by limited military operations and heightened tensions, alongside continuing efforts by Qatar and other parties to prevent a wider confrontation.

END/SMA/AJ