Unclear what comes next as US strikes Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz

Left · 1

• 'Deeply Alarming': Hours Before Midterm Elections, Trump Bombs Iran's Qeshm Islandcommondreams.org · cred 6/10

  <img src="https://www.commondreams.org/media-library/president-trump-meets-with-retired-american-teacher-freed-from-russian-prison-stephen-hubbard-in-the-oval-office.jpg?id=68581768&amp;width=1200&amp;height=400&amp;coordinates=0%2C141%2C0%2C1528" /><br /><br /><p>The Trump administration launched a new bombing attack on Iranian territory Monday night, striking Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on the eve of the US midterms amid <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/chris-murphy-iran-war-plan" target="_blank">mounting fears</a> of a massive post-election assault.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-strikes-irans-qeshm-island-as-trump-talks-down-war-risks-79d73d3d" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a> was first to report the strikes, which a US official characterized as a "defensive measure" in response to Iran's use of surface-to-air missiles against American forces that have been waging an illegal war of aggression against Iran since February. The Journal noted that "in one instance on Monday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired a surface-to-air missile at a US jet fighter, which fired back in self-defense."</p><p>The US military did not publicly announce the attack on Qeshm Island, which came hours before American voters were set to head to the polls to decide whether President Donald Trump's party should remain in control of Congress. The Journal reported that the Trump administration has "purposefully" been keeping its recent campaign of smaller-scale strikes on Iran quiet "so as not to signal any intention of resuming major combat operations."</p><p>Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, <a href="https://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/11/03/3739224/iran-braced-for-any-scenario-deputy-fm" target="_blank">said</a> Tuesday that "Iran is prepared for any scenario" and stressed that the country "retains its right to legitimate self-defense until the military aggression has been brought to a complete and permanent end."</p><p>Last month, Trump <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/9/trump-says-us-will-not-strike-iran-before-midterm-elections" target="_blank">vowed</a>—falsely, given Monday's strikes—that the US would "not be attacking Iran at any time prior" to the midterms and that the two sides were engaged in "productive discussions."</p><p>Vice President JD Vance asserted Monday that he and Trump "both feel really good about the prospect of potentially coming to a negotiated settlement" to end the massively unpopular and destructive war with Iran.</p><p>Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, said late Monday that "after eight months of an illegal war, there was finally some hope that a diplomatic agreement might be within reach and this war could end through negotiations rather than spiral into the violent scenarios being threatened after the midterm elections."</p><p>"But these deeply alarming revelations suggest we may be heading in precisely the opposite direction," Abdi said of the Qeshm Island strikes and other recent attacks on Iran. "Every day that Congress fails to intervene is another day this administration is allowed to wage an unauthorized war, conceal its military operations, and gamble with millions of lives. Congress must immediately demand answers, oppose further military action, and use its power to cut off funding for this unauthorized war. Americans must raise their voices and demand that their representatives act now. There is still a chance to prevent another catastrophe, but that window may be closing. We cannot afford to let this war escalate further.”</p><p>The latest US strikes came days after Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/chris-murphy-iran-war-plan" target="_blank">warned</a> that the Trump administration was considering an "insane" plan to resume major attacks on Iran following Tuesday's midterm elections.</p><p>If the plan is carried out, Murphy said, "it will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law."</p><p>Murphy, whose remarks were based on information he and other lawmakers received during a classified briefing, did not specifically warn that Trump is considering the use of nuclear weapons against Iran. But concerns about such a grave escalation grew over the weekend after far-right commentator Tucker Carlson—who has vocally criticized the president's decision to wage war against Iran—<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/trump-iran-nuclear-war" target="_blank">claimed</a> that the Trump administration "may be within days of launching a nuclear strike on Iran."</p><p>"Whether these allegations reflect serious military planning or reckless posturing, the very possibility of a US nuclear attack on Iran is an unconscionable horror," NIAC said in response.</p>

  • · The Trump administration launched a bombing attack on Iranian territory Monday night, striking Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • · The Wall Street Journal was first to report the strikes, which a US official characterized as a 'defensive measure' in response to Iran's use of surface-to-air missiles against American forces.

Center / Wire · 6

• US hits Qeshm Island, Pezeshkian signals more diplomacy: Iran war latestaljazeera.com · cred 7/10

  With the first US attack on Qeshm Island since June, Iran and the US are on parallel tracks towards both peace and war.

  • · US forces struck Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, described as a defensive measure.
  • · The attack followed the destruction of a US MQ-9 drone by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
• US carries out 'defensive' strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, officials sayal-monitor.com · cred 6/10

  <p>By Phil Stewart and Steve Holland</p><p>WASHINGTON, Nov 2 - The US carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a US official said on Monday.</p><p>The strikes, earlier reported by the Wall Street Journal, appeared to be limited and were not a resumption of major combat operations, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.</p><p>Another official said the strikes were defensive measures against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets. </p>

  • · The US carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official.
  • · The strikes were described as limited and not a resumption of major combat operations.
• US carries out ‘defensive’ strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island in Strait of Hormuztimesofisrael.com · cred 5/10

  Officials say 'limited' strikes not resumption of war, targeted Iranians 'using surface-to-air missiles against US assets'; Iranian official says deal with US still out of reach<figure><img border="0" class="type:primaryImage" height="100" src="https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2026/11/10059598-1024x640.jpg" title="US carries out &#8216;defensive&#8217; strikes on Iran&#8217;s Qeshm island in Strait of Hormuz" width="160" /></figure>

  • · US carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz
  • · Officials described the strikes as 'limited' and not a resumption of war
• Unclear what comes next as US strikes Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuzfrance24.com · cred 4/10

  The United States on Monday attacked Iran's Qeshm Island, the Wall Street Journal reported, even as President Donald Trump signaled progress in negotiations with Tehran to end the eight-month-old conflict. The Journal, citing unnamed US officials, described the strike against Qeshm, the the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, as the latest of a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks.

  • · The United States attacked Iran's Qeshm Island
  • · Qeshm is the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz
• US conducts series of ‘defensive strikes’ against Iranaljazeera.com · cred 4/10

  The US has carried out a series of ‘defensive strikes’ on Iranian locations near Hormuz, with explosions heard on Qeshm.

  • · The US has carried out a series of 'defensive strikes' on Iranian locations near Hormuz
  • · Explosions were heard on Qeshm Island
• US attacks Iran's Qeshm Island, US media reportlemonde.fr · cred 2/10

  Qeshm, the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, is the latest target in a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against Iran in recent weeks.

  • · Qeshm Island is the largest in the Strait of Hormuz
  • · US media report claims US attacks on Qeshm Island

Right · 4

• Explosions hit Iran’s Qeshm Island as US media report US strikes in Hormuzaljazeera.com · cred 6/10

  Several explosions heard in Qeshm Island and Bandar Lengeh, as US media say the US military carried out the strikes.

  • · Explosions were reported in Qeshm Island and Bandar Lengeh.
  • · US media reported the US military carried out defensive strikes in the Strait of Hormuz.
• US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island ahead of midterm electionseuronews.com · cred 6/10

  The strikes on Iran come on the eve of US midterm elections, and just hours after Trump signalled progress in negotiations with Tehran.

  • · The United States has carried out strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • · An unnamed US official described the operation as defensive strikes targeting 'Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets'.
• US strikes Iranian islands as Trump talks up diplomatic progressal-monitor.com · cred 6/10

  <p>The United States launched limited strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, US media reported, hours after President Donald Trump signalled diplomatic progress with Tehran.</p> <p>The strikes, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, hit Qeshm Island, where&nbsp;Iranian state media reported five explosions in rapid succession.</p> <p>Unnamed US officials cited by the Journal and other outlets described the attacks as defensive in nature, while the paper said it was just the latest of several undeclared strikes.</p>

  • · The United States launched limited strikes on an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
  • · The strikes hit Qeshm Island, where Iranian state media reported five explosions in rapid succession.
• Trump administration takes optimistic tone on Iran while launching new strikesemafor.com · cred 5/10

  A US official described Monday’s attack as “a defensive measure for Iranians using surface to air missiles against US assets.”

  • · The Trump administration is offering a more optimistic tone on diplomacy with Iran.
  • · A US official described Monday’s attack as âa defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.â