US President Donald Trump has confirmed that American forces struck an Iranian air defence site on Friday, describing the operation as “minor” while insisting that the United States was not at war with Iran.
The strike was the first reported US military action against Iran since Tuesday’s midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said American forces had destroyed an Iranian anti-aircraft installation within minutes.
“They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five,” he said.
Iranian state media reported two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, close to a major oil shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz.
Friday’s operation marked the second round of US strikes against Iran that week. American forces had launched attacks on Monday, which Washington described as defensive, with explosions reported on Qeshm and Hengam islands and near Bandar Abbas, a major naval hub on the Iranian mainland.
Trump rejected the suggestion that the United States was at war with Iran, pointing to what he described as the absence of recent American casualties. He also said Washington remained in contact with Tehran.
“We have total control, but we’re dealing with the Iranians. We’ll see how that all works out,” he said.
The US president acknowledged that the conflict had contributed to Republican losses in the midterm elections. The fighting has also driven up petrol prices, adding to voter frustration ahead of the polls.
Hours before Friday’s strike, Washington announced a reward of up to $20 million, alongside possible relocation assistance, for information about Iran’s nuclear programme.
The State Department’s Rewards for Justice programme said it was seeking information about nuclear scientists and other personnel, technologies, capabilities and organisations connected to the programme.
Meanwhile, two Middle Eastern government officials said Tehran was considering new proposals brokered by Qatar to ease tensions between the two countries.
One of the officials said Iran was unwilling to negotiate over its nuclear programme until Washington agreed to several conditions. These reportedly include ending the blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, unfreezing Iranian assets, paying compensation for war damage and securing an end to Israeli operations in Lebanon.
The White House declined to comment directly on the proposals but said discussions with Iran would continue.
“We are talking to Iran. We have been,” Trump said.
Amid concerns that the United States could target Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility, Iranian authorities have also circulated emergency guidance to residents.
A video shared on Iranian social media urged people to “get inside, stay inside and listen for updates” in the event of a nuclear emergency.
It warned that strong winds could carry radioactive dust over long distances and claimed that residents living closest to the suspected site might have only 10 to 15 minutes before radioactive fallout reached them.
An Iranian Health Ministry official also told The Times that iodine tablets had been distributed to people living near nuclear facilities.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump claimed that previous American strikes had destroyed Iran’s potential nuclear capabilities. However, he indicated that Pickaxe Mountain could still be targeted.
“Now we might have to go after Pickaxe but that’s not a big deal,” he said, claiming the United States could carry out such an operation within an hour if it decided to do so.
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