United States forces carried out limited strikes against an Iranian air-defence position on Qeshm Island late on Friday, President Donald Trump has confirmed, describing the operation as minor while indirect talks between Washington and Tehran continue.

Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that American forces had knocked out a small anti-aircraft system Iran had built on the island. "We do minor strikes," he said, adding that the target was destroyed in "about 15 minutes, maybe five."

Iranian state media reported two projectiles striking near Suza, on the southern coast of Qeshm, which sits inside the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow shipping route carrying about a fifth of the world's oil. Iran's army said separately that its air defences had destroyed an American MQ-9 drone over the island using a new system, while the Revolutionary Guards claimed to have intercepted an MQ-1 drone.

US Central Command, asked about the reports, said the situation on the island was "relatively calm" and offered no further comment. Neither the reported damage to the air-defence system nor the Iranian drone claims have been independently confirmed, and no casualties have been reported.

The strike was the second publicly reported American attack on Qeshm in five days, and the first since Tuesday's midterm elections in the United States. It came as Qatar said negotiations aimed at containing the eight-month war were still making progress, and as shipping through the Strait remained under strain. Britain's maritime trade body said at least 11 ships were attacked in and around the Strait in the week ending 6 November, three of which sank.

[Source: theamericanquorum.com](https://www.theamericanquorum.com/us-strikes-qeshm-island-again-iran-talks-continue/) | [Source: 234radio.com](https://234radio.com/qeshm-island-and-hormuz-hit-as-mediators-try-to-prevent-us-iran-escalation/)