Iran says it will 'respond forcefully' after US strikes on Qeshm Island
US yet to confirm strikes; officials privy to matter call attack ‘defensive measure’ against surface-to-air missiles used against US assets’ at Hormuz
Hours after the US struck Iran’s Qeshm Island, close to the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has vowed to “respond forcefully” to any attack by America in the region and beyond.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran will react if the US continues to strike, while also noting that the two countries are “far from reaching a deal,” hinting at a further escalation in the longstanding military conflict.
Also read: US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island amid Strait of Hormuz tensions: Report
The Iranian state media on Tuesday reported that at least five explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, while blasts were reported in the nearby port city of Bandar Lengeh on Monday (November 2).
Strikes amid Trump’s hint at peace deal
While the US has not officially confirmed the strikes, publications including CNN and the Wall Street Journal attributed the strikes to the US military.
The blasts came soon after US President Donald Trump hinted at a possible breakthrough in negotiations for a peace deal between Washington and Tehran.
The strikes also came on the eve of the US midterm elections that are crucial for Trump’s Republican Party amid negative public sentiment over rising prices due to the US war in Iran.
Trump earlier had said that the US wouldn’t carry out strikes on Iran before the mid-term elections.
‘Defensive measure’
A US official told CNN that the strike was carried out as a “defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Also read: Will US mid-term results dictate Trump’s move to resume Iran war?
WSJ said the US has been carrying out small-scale strikes in Iran for several weeks.
‘Israel pressing for fresh strikes’
A day before the strikes, US Vice President JD Vance hinted that a deal between the US and Iran may be in the offing, which in turn would prevent Trump from following through on his threat to order fresh strikes on Iran.
Also read: US asks Middle East allies to prepare for renewed strikes on Iran: Report
Other reports, quoting regional officers, however, say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for renewed strikes on Iran after Tuesday’s elections in the US.
Fresh strikes in Iran could help him form an emergency government at a time when he and his far-right allies failed to secure a majority in the recent elections.