Trump Confirms US Strikes on Iranian Island as Tehran Warns It is Ready for War
"They built an anti-aircraft facility... As soon as it was completed, we hit it last night very nicely," Trump said, describing the operation as a "minor attack."
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that American forces had carried out strikes against Iran, following reports of attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions between Washington and Tehran threaten to escalate again.
Speaking in a telephone interview with Fox News' Fox & Friends, Trump said US forces had targeted an Iranian anti-aircraft facility shortly after its completion.
"They built an anti-aircraft facility... As soon as it was completed, we hit it last night very nicely," Trump said, describing the operation as a "minor attack."
The strikes, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The New York Times and other media outlets, reportedly targeted Qeshm Island, a strategically important location in the Strait of Hormuz. Unnamed US officials described the operation as defensive in nature.
The reports marked the latest indication of renewed military activity in the region, which has been at the centre of the conflict and disruptions to global markets.
In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that a return to war would benefit no one, stressing that his government continued to seek a diplomatic solution to the crisis.
Speaking hours after the reported strikes, Pezeshkian said Iran was pursuing dialogue and emphasised that the country's Supreme Leader had recently granted the government additional authority to negotiate issues that had previously been considered off-limits.
However, Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that the Islamic Republic remained prepared for confrontation.
"Iran is ready for battle with its finger on the trigger," Ghalibaf said.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also maintained that Tehran retained the right to legitimate self-defence following the reported attacks.
The developments come as US voters prepare to cast their ballots in the midterm elections, which could have significant implications for Trump's political standing and control of Congress.