Reported by Al Jazeera
The US president also claims ‘a lot of progress’ in Washington’s negotiations with Tehran.
US President Donald Trump has confirmed US military strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, claiming that Washington has made “a lot of progress” in talks with Iran.
Trump said on Friday that US forces had carried out what he described as minor strikes against Iranian air defence systems.
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“We do minor strikes,” Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida. “They knocked out – they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five.”
Trump spoke shortly after Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for oil shipments.
State broadcaster IRIB also reported an Iranian army statement, saying that the country’s air defence forces intercepted and destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over Qeshm Island.
In response to reports of explosions heard on Iran’s Qeshm Island, US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, said the situation is “relatively calm”.
A CENTCOM official told Al Jazeera that they are aware of the reports, adding they have no further comment.
CENTCOM announced in a post on X late on Friday that the US “is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including its facilities, equipment, and associated personnel, such as those in the scientific community, or the movement of any of the above”.
On Monday, Iranian media reported several explosions on Qeshm Island, as American media outlets reported that the US military carried out what officials called “ defensive strikes ” in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump told reporters several times on Friday that his administration was talking to representatives from Tehran.
“We’re dealing with them now. They want to make a deal,” the US president said.
“We’ve made a lot of progress with Iran,” he added, without providing details.
On Saturday, Qatar dismissed reports claiming negotiations between the US and Iran have failed, warning that such claims benefit…