Trump Confirms US Hit Iranian Air Defenses on Qeshm as Talks Show “a Lot of Progress”
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 7
Trump Confirms US Hit Iranian Air Defenses on Qeshm as Talks Show “a Lot of Progress”
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Nov 7
Summary
Qeshm Island was hit by what Trump called a “minor” US strike, with the president saying American forces knocked out an Iranian anti-aircraft system in about 5 to 15 minutes.
Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area and said Iranian air defenses also shot down a US MQ-9 drone over the island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump paired the strike with repeated claims that Washington is still talking with Tehran and has made “a lot of progress,” without giving details.
Qatar pushed back on reports that US-Iran negotiations had collapsed, saying mediation remains active to prevent wider regional escalation.
The strike came days after US “defensive strikes” on Qeshm and amid warnings from Trump and Pentagon officials that larger US operations against Iran could resume.
Why is Washington suddenly offering $20 million for nuclear intel if recent military strikes are successfully degrading Iranian defenses?
Is the ongoing military pressure actually backfiring by pushing Tehran toward more unpredictable proxy violence and rapid nuclear acceleration?
With millions of oil barrels stuck and tankers burning, could these localized strikes trigger a catastrophic shutdown of global energy arteries?
$20 Billion at the Strait: The 2026 US-Iran Qeshm Island Strikes, Nuclear Intelligence Bounty, and Global Energy Crisis
Overview
In November 2026, U.S. strikes on Iranian air defenses on Qeshm Island triggered a rapid escalation in the Persian Gulf. Iran responded by deploying sea mines, leading to tanker explosions and a selective blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which disrupted global oil supplies and caused price swings. The crisis fueled public anger over rising fuel costs in the U.S., contributing to a Democratic sweep in the midterm elections. Meanwhile, skepticism over the legal basis for the strikes led key allies to restrict U.S. military operations. Amid these tensions, Qatari mediators worked urgently to broker a de-escalation deal between Washington and Tehran.