US Strikes Iranian Base on Qeshm Island Amid Indirect Negotiations

The United States has carried out military strikes against targets on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, even as indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue through Qatari mediators. President Donald Trump confirmed the actions on Friday, describing them as minor operations directed at air defence systems, while simultaneously stating that diplomatic discussions had made progress.

Iranian state news agency IRNA reported two missile strikes near the town of Suza on Qeshm Island, a location the US military identifies as housing Iranian naval bases and missile launch installations. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB quoted army officials stating that local air defence units intercepted and shot down an American MQ-9 drone over the island. US Central Command, which oversees operations in the region, characterized the overall security situation as relatively calm following the engagement.

Iranian authorities have initiated precautionary measures near key infrastructure, distributing iodine tablets to populations residing close to nuclear facilities, including the operational plant at Bushehr. A health official quoted by the British newspaper The Times stated that the distribution was intended to protect citizens in the event of strikes against nuclear installations such as the Pickaxe Mountain subterranean complex. Meanwhile, the US State Department’s Rewards for Justice program announced a reward of up to $20 million for information concerning Iran’s nuclear program, including details on facilities and personnel.

On the diplomatic front, Qatari officials confirmed ongoing communication between the two governments. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari rejected public assertions that negotiations had failed, stating that such claims only served parties interested in prolonging the conflict. According to Iranian sources, Tehran has submitted a proposal outlining terms for an agreement, requiring Washington to remove sanctions, unfreeze financial assets, lift its naval blockade, and guarantee an end to military strikes.

Military preparations and warnings of escalation persist on both sides as Washington assesses its next steps. A spokesman for an adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force stated that any country facilitating American strikes would be considered a legitimate target for Iranian forces. According to the news website Axios, citing an unnamed US official, US Central Command is preparing plans for the potential resumption of larger-scale military operations in Iran, awaiting directives from the White House.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com