U.S. strikes Iranian air defense system as Qatar pushes new peace plan
President Trump called the Friday attacks minor, but they occurred just days after Republicans lost control of Congress.
By James Mitchell ·
The U.S. military hit an Iranian air defense system on Friday, marking the first American strike since the Republican Party lost both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections. Iranian state media reported hearing two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island. This location sits in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments.
President Donald Trump described the action as minor. He told reporters upon arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida, that the U.S. knocked out an anti-aircraft device in about 15 minutes. Trump said the process might have taken only five minutes. He did not provide additional details on the specific target.
U.S. officials previously assessed that Iran would attempt to rebuild its air defense networks. Most of those systems were destroyed or severely degraded during a June 2025 bombardment by Israel and in the early stages of the current conflict. The military also reported defensive strikes on Monday. Those attacks targeted locations on Qeshm and Hengam islands, as well as the mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
The electoral setback was driven partly by voter dissatisfaction with the war and rising fuel prices. Since the loss, Trump has shifted between threatening to destroy Iran and suggesting a resolution is near. On Friday, two Middle East government officials said Iran is reviewing proposals presented by Qatar. These proposals aim to resolve differences between Tehran and Washington regarding the nuclear program.
One official noted that Iran remains unwilling to engage in direct negotiations with the Trump administration. Tehran demands several core conditions be met before talks begin. These include ending the U.S. blockade on Iran's ports, lifting sanctions, and unfreezing Iranian assets. Iran also seeks compensation for war damage and a halt to hostilities across the region, including Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Regional officials described a potential bridge deal discussed by mediators and Iran. The proposal calls for trust-building measures over two days. On the first day, the U.S. would lift its blockade and release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds. In return, Tehran would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit sites previously bombed by the U.S. and Israel.
On the second day, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This would follow a modified agreement between Iran and Oman that has not yet been approved by the United States. The mechanism is temporary until a permanent deal is reached with other Gulf countries. Following these steps, the U.S. and Iran would begin extensive talks on Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Diplomatic activity has intensified in recent days. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke by phone with Qatari counterpart Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Friday. The Qatari government confirmed the call after announcing a separate conversation between Trump and Qatar's emir. Both leaders discussed efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held calls with his Iraqi and Tunisian counterparts. He discussed Tehran's vision for resuming negotiations with Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said both sides must demonstrate flexibility to achieve compromise solutions. He also spoke with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, about the importance of political negotiations.
U.S. Central Command announced on X that the United States is offering a reward of up to $20 million for information on Iran's nuclear program. The reward includes possible relocation for informants. The post linked to the State Department's Rewards for Justice program. Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, though the International Atomic Energy Agency reports it holds 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity.
