Qeshm Island in Iran comes under attack

United States President Donald Trump appears to have broken his no-strike promise before his country's midterm elections, as media outlets have reported that Washington was responsible for a series of strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island this week.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report, citing unnamed US officials, that the US attacked Qeshm Island on Monday, in what it said was the latest in a series of limited strikes that Washington secretly carried out against the country even as Trump touted the possibility of a diplomatic deal.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two US MQM-170 reconnaissance drones were downed over southern Qeshm Island by the IRGC's Aerospace Force, Mehr News Agency reported on Tuesday. The latest operation brings the total number of US drones of this type captured by the IRGC to four, the Iranian news agency said, citing an IRGC statement.

Prior to the strikes, Trump indicated there was progress toward a possible agreement with Iran. In a social media post, he claimed oil prices "are dropping like a rock, down almost $10 a barrel" because people feel that there would not be a fresh war with Iran.

"Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!" Trump wrote.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Trump said the conflict with Iran is not a "forever war". "We're not fighting a war … When was the last time we fired anything? This isn't a war, this is a very soft war," Trump told host Sean Hannity.

US Vice-President JD Vance said Washington has held "a number of good conversations with the Iranians" and that he and Trump felt optimistic about the prospects of a settlement, adding that the two sides have not set deadlines.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned in a parliamentary session on Tuesday that any military miscalculation by the US would trigger an unpredictable and sweeping response, stressing that Iran is fully prepared to defend itself and will not surrender to Washington's threats, Iran's Tasnim News Agency reported.

Ghalibaf was quoted as saying by Tasnim that Iran would not confine its response to geographical limitations.

'Strategic mistake'

"If Washington makes another strategic mistake, it should know that this time it will face a new battlefield and will be even more desperate than it is today as it searches for a way out," the senior Iranian official said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated, in a post on X on Tuesday, comments he made in an interview with Al Jazeera, saying Tehran harbors no hostility toward its neighbors.

He expressed appreciation for the positive role played by Qatar and Oman in promoting negotiations, adding that Tehran will continue dialogue with Saudi Arabia.

Over the last 48 hours, countries in the region have stepped up diplomatic efforts in hopes of easing tensions.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held separate phone calls with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon to discuss reaching a solution that ensures freedom of maritime navigation and one that paves the way for a comprehensive agreement to achieve lasting peace in the region.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, meanwhile, held phone calls with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to review the prospects of strategic defense cooperation, including efforts to de-escalate tensions and the continued Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia.