US Hits Iran Targets Before Midterms

Explosions shook the islands of Qeshm and Hengam on Monday morning.

A U.S. official confirmed that American forces launched strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation was limited and remained unannounced publicly until later in the day. Iranian state media reported blasts on the two islands and in the mainland city of Bandar Abbas. The official stated that the targets were Iranian units using surface-to-air missiles against the United States in the waterway.

The timing of the attack created tension with statements made by President Donald Trump. The president had previously declared that the U.S. would not launch strikes on Iran before the midterm elections. The war has weighed on the economy, particularly through higher gasoline prices, which has become a liability for Republicans seeking to keep control of Congress. The last known U.S. attacks occurred in early September. Thousands of troops remain in the region to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian oil tankers, and another aircraft carrier is en route.

Diplomatic efforts continued in parallel with the military action. Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Monday that he and Trump felt positive about the prospects for a negotiated settlement. Two regional officials and one person familiar with the matter said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed Trump for more strikes after the elections. Netanyahu lost his parliamentary majority last week and needs a return to war to form an emergency government. Mediators are working on a framework where Iran stops attacks in the strait and the U.S. lifts its blockade.

Iran presented its own conditions for peace on Monday. The country announced a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks if Washington meets specific demands. Iranian officials said ships must follow a route agreed upon by Iran and Oman. They also demanded the lifting of sanctions on oil sales and a ceasefire that includes Lebanon. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the parliament speaker and chief negotiator, said on Tuesday that Iran delivered a firm response to the U.S. He warned that a strategic miscalculation would lead to a new battlefield.

Iranian authorities moved to bolster their forces on the ground. They opened a third military training center in Tehran on Monday. Ali Kowsari, the Basij deputy head for training, announced plans to train one million paramilitary volunteers nationwide. The Basij is affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard. The training program, called Janfada, began registering volunteers in March. Courses cover urban defense, weapons handling, and air defense. Two similar centers opened in Tehran in August and September. More talks between the sides are scheduled for later this week.