US forces have struck Iranian air-defence positions on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, and the US military says it disabled a ship that tried to run its naval blockade of Iran.
US officials described the strikes as self-defence. They said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had repeatedly fired on American manned and unmanned aircraft over the strait in recent weeks and continued to target commercial shipping. After Iranian forces again tried to hit a US aircraft, American forces struck a launcher on the island. One official called it "a defensive measure" against Iranian surface-to-air missiles.
President Donald Trump confirmed the action, describing it as "just a minor attack" and saying the situation was not a war. He said he was not looking to "kill lots of people" but added: "if we have to, we'll have to."
Blockade holds
On Saturday, US Central Command said it disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman whose crew ignored repeated warnings. Central Command says the blockade of Iranian ports has kept Iran from exporting more than $25 billion of crude oil in recent months. A third US aircraft carrier and additional troops are heading to the region.
Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm and at the port of Jask, and Iran claimed to have shot down a US drone.
Talks continue
Diplomacy is continuing alongside the pressure campaign. Vice President JD Vance has said there have been "a number of good conversations" with Tehran, and mediators including Qatar are working to prevent escalation. Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran had given a "firm and rational response" to Washington. Iran's latest proposal asks the United States to lift the blockade.
Sources: NBC News, Al Jazeera, Times of Israel.
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