US Hits Qeshm Island Hours Before Midterms

US forces conducted strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island on November 2. American officials confirmed the operation just hours before the November 3 midterm elections. The attack was part of a series of limited operations carried out in recent weeks without public announcement.

President Donald Trump rejected the idea of an immediate major campaign against Tehran on November 2. He told reporters he did not expect strikes to follow the vote. When asked if he was considering post-election attacks, he answered, “No.” Administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that military options remained on the table despite his public remarks.

US officials described the recent operations as defensive measures. They said the goal was to reduce Iran's ability to threaten commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. One official noted the administration kept the strikes quiet to avoid signaling a return to major combat.

Qeshm Island sits at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. It overlooks a primary route for international energy shipments. The island houses an underground missile installation, a naval base, and a desalination plant. US forces have attacked the location in previous conflicts and discussed seizing control of it.

Iranian state news agency IRNA reported explosions on the island on November 2. The Pentagon referred questions to US Central Command, which did not immediately respond to RFE/RL's request for comment. Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Nuclear Iran, said the strikes aimed to weaken Iran's interference in shipping without forcing a political change.

Diplomatic talks have continued alongside the military actions. Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested that negotiations on Iran's nuclear program could produce an agreement. Vance reported progress in those talks. Trump linked falling oil prices on social media to market expectations that war would not resume.

Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said on November 2 that the next move belonged to Washington. He described Tehran's demands as clear and reasonable. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and other leaders warned of retaliation both inside and outside the Middle East if the conflict restarts.

Admiral Brad Cooper, chief of US Central Command, briefed Trump at the White House last week. Additional missile defenses and munitions have arrived in the region in recent weeks. US officials advised Gulf countries to prepare for a brief and intense campaign following the elections, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Brett Erickson of Obsidian Risk Advisors noted that the strikes carried escalation risks. He said they followed the pattern of recent limited engagements. He observed that Iran's restrained responses to similar incidents suggested little reason to expect a major shift in Tehran's calculations.

Gregory Brew of Eurasia Group said the attacks showed Washington actively challenging Iranian control near the strait. He pointed to the targeting of coastal facilities as evidence of this shift. He added that US reluctance to publicize the operations and Iran's willingness to absorb them without retaliation indicated both sides were weighing the risks of the confrontation.