President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States military carried out new limited strikes on Iran, targeting an Iranian air defence system.
Iranian state media reported the sound of two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, which sits in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil shipments.
Trump described the military action as “minor” while speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday evening. “They knocked out — they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,” he said. He did not offer further details about the target.
US officials have said most of Iran’s air defence systems were destroyed or severely degraded during Israel’s bombardment in June 2025 and in the early stages of the current conflict, and have assessed that Iran would try to rebuild them and other military infrastructure over time.
The US military also reported carrying out what it described as defensive strikes on Monday. Explosions were heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the Strait of Hormuz, and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
Friday’s strikes are the first since Tuesday’s midterm elections in the US, in which the Republicans lost both chambers of Congress.
The strikes came as diplomatic efforts continued. Earlier on Friday, two Middle East government officials said Iran was reviewing proposals presented by chief mediator Qatar aimed at addressing differences with the United States about Tehran’s nuclear programme. One official said Iran remains unwilling to engage in negotiations over its atomic activities until the US agrees to several core conditions it wants included in a ceasefire agreement.
Mediators and Iran have also discussed a potential bridge deal to pave the way for further talks. According to regional officials, the proposal calls for trust-building measures over two days, including lifting the US blockade and releasing some of the billions of dollars in Iranian frozen funds, in return for Iran allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at its sites bombed by the US and Israel. On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz under a modified agreement.
US Central Command announced late on Friday that the United States was offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear programme, including its facilities, equipment and associated personnel.
Tehran insists on several concessions before nuclear talks, including ending the US blockade on its ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing its assets, compensation for war damage and ending hostilities in the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon. Iran has long maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
Source: Associated Press
