The United States reportedly carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island on Monday, even as Vice President JD Vance voiced optimism about reaching a negotiated settlement with Tehran. The Wall Street Journal cited U.S. officials in reporting the attack and said Washington had conducted limited strikes against Iran in recent weeks.
An unnamed official told the newspaper that the campaign had been kept deliberately quiet to avoid signaling plans for a major escalation. Qeshm, Iran’s largest island in the Persian Gulf, lies near the Strait of Hormuz. Reports have identified it as a potential target because anti-ship missiles, mines, drones and attack craft are believed to be stored in underground tunnels there.
Speaking to CNN on Monday, Vance said he and President Donald Trump felt “really good” about the possibility of a negotiated settlement. He also described Iran as “unpredictable” and said Trump retained both “kinetic and non-kinetic” options. Vance said the administration had set no deadline for reaching a peace deal.
Trump said earlier on Monday that the United States had gone to war with Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon, adding that Washington would not allow Iran to have one. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Nov. 1 that Trump wanted to resolve the conflict diplomatically and preferred not to use military force.
Sources: CNBC Markets.