U.S. strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Trump talks down war risks

The U.S. attacked Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday, U.S. officials said, in the latest of a series of limited strikes Washington has secretly carried out against the country in recent weeks as President Trump touted the possibility of a diplomatic deal.

The strikes came as President Trump publicly downplayed the risk of renewed large-scale war with Iran after the midterm elections. He told reporters: “we haven’t been doing any fighting for months” and indicated he was not considering immediate new major strikes. Vice President JD Vance also expressed optimism about possible diplomatic progress toward a negotiated settlement.