Trump claims 'minor strikes' on Iran's Qeshm Island, but says talks ongoing

On November 7, 2026, US President Donald Trump claimed that American military forces had conducted minor strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, which he said had "knocked out" Iranian air defense systems. The island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, has been a focal point of the ongoing tension between the US and Iran since the US-led military action in February.

Iranian state media reported that two blasts were heard on Qeshm Island, leading Iranian military to announce that they had successfully downed a US drone over the territory. US Central Command (Centcom) responded to the reported explosions, stating that the situation was "relatively calm". In a subsequent post on social media platform X, Trump announced a reward of up to $20 million for information regarding Iran's nuclear program, further escalating the situation.

This latest strike is the first since Trump's Republican Party's major defeat in the US midterm elections, which was partially attributed to his policies on Iran and the subsequent increase in energy prices. Trump's messaging has been inconsistent since then, shifting between threats of resulting in the destruction of Iran and claims that the conflict is nearing its conclusion.

On the same day, Trump reiterated that talks with Iran were ongoing, stating that "we’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal" and adding, "we’ve made a lot of progress with Iran". Meanwhile, Qatar's foreign ministry dismissed allegations that negotiations had stalled, criticizing those promoting such claims as serving those seeking to prolong the war and destabilize the region.