US signals diplomatic progress with Iran while report of strikes fuels election-eve tension

President Donald Trump signaled potential progress in indirect diplomatic negotiations to end the eight-month conflict with Iran, stating on Truth Social that a peace settlement could happen soon because Tehran has expressed interest in a resolution. According to Dawn, Tehran reported "intensive" exchanges while offering to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under strict conditions. These diplomatic signals emerged ahead of the US midterm elections, during which the Republican Party is seeking to retain control of Congress.

Amid these developments, reports surfaced that the United States carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Al-Monitor reported that a US official described the strikes as limited and not a resumption of major combat operations. KahawaTungu reported that US officials told CBS the strikes were in response to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps firing upon a US aircraft. Iranian state media reported five explosions in rapid succession on the island.

Ajel English reported that US officials told The New York Times there are no immediate plans to escalate military action following the strikes. While Trump told Axios he was in "no rush" to increase strikes, he told Fox News that the US "might need to go after Pickaxe," a site linked to Iran's nuclear programme. On Monday, oil prices fell by more than seven per cent due to optimism regarding a possible end to the conflict, according to Dawn.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Al-Monitor, Dawn, Ajel English, KahawaTungu — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.