The US military has carried out fresh, limited strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, in an operation Washington described as defensive, even as President Donald Trump signalled that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran remained possible.
The strikes, conducted on Monday, came after Iran allegedly fired at a US aircraft and targeted US assets with surface-to-air missiles, according to three US officials cited by CNN. The officials characterised the operation as a defensive response rather than the start of a broader military campaign.
The latest action underlines the fragility of the situation in the Gulf, where military confrontation continues alongside efforts by regional mediators to secure an end to the eight-month conflict.
Trump, meanwhile, suggested that diplomacy had not run its course, writing on social media on Monday that an agreement with Iran "could happen".
Iranian state media reported several explosions on Qeshm in the early hours of Tuesday, with blasts also heard on nearby Hengam Island and in the port city of Bandar Abbas, according to reports carried by the Fars news agency.
The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the operation, said the strikes were part of a series of US attacks on Iranian targets in recent weeks that had not previously been made public.
Trump leaves door open to diplomacy
Trump did not directly address the latest strikes during an appearance on Fox News that aired on Monday night. However, he indicated that Washington remained hopeful of reaching an agreement with Tehran.
"We're not fighting a war. Everyone says 'you're at war!' Well, when was the last time we fired anything?" Trump said, adding that there was a "very good chance" of reaching a deal.
He warned, however, that military action could resume if Iran did not agree to an agreement. Trump also raised the possibility of striking Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility where Israel believes Iran has stored part of its enriched uranium stockpile and advanced centrifuges.
Vice-President JD Vance also expressed optimism about the diplomatic efforts, saying the US and Iran had made progress towards finding a way out of the conflict.
Speaking to reporters after a conversation with Trump, Vance said both believed the prospects for a negotiated settlement were encouraging, although he cautioned that Tehran remained unpredictable.
The comments came amid speculation that Washington could consider renewed military action after Tuesday's US midterm elections. Trump had previously suggested that attacks would not resume before the vote.
Qatar-led mediation continues
Iranian officials said diplomatic contacts were continuing after several days of discussions with Qatari mediators ended without a breakthrough.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said consultations through intermediaries were intensive and that Tehran had presented its conditions and proposals.
"Everything depends on the political rationality of Washington," he said in comments carried by Iranian state media.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran's seven-step proposal, originally submitted in September, remained the basis of the discussions, although Tehran was prepared to shorten the implementation period.
The revised proposal could be implemented within two days, he said.
The plan calls for Washington to lift its blockade of Iranian ports, allow a waiver for Iranian oil sales and cancel new sanctions, in return for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Discussions on other outstanding issues, including the nuclear programme, would follow.
The conflict, launched by the US and Israel on February 28, has disrupted energy supplies and shipping through the strategic waterway, which previously carried about a fifth of global oil consumption.
