U.S. strikes Iranian targets in Strait of Hormuz ahead of elections

The United States launched a limited attack on Iranian military targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, hours before Tuesday’s midterm elections. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the strikes targeted Iranian forces using surface-to-air missiles against American assets in the waterway. Iranian state media reported explosions on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam, as well as in the mainland area of Bandar Abbas.

President Donald Trump has discussed launching new strikes on Iran since the start of the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Trump to resume military action during a call over the weekend. Two regional officials and a third person familiar with the matter said Netanyahu pressed for renewed attacks. The officials spoke anonymously because they were discussing classified briefings from American and Israeli sources.

Iranian leaders responded with warnings. Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, posted on social media that the strait will not reopen until the United States meets Tehran’s demands. Iran has proposed lifting the U.S. naval blockade, waiving oil sanctions, and establishing a ceasefire that includes Lebanon. In exchange, Iran would reopen the strait and resume nuclear talks.

Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about a diplomatic solution. Speaking on Monday before the U.S. confirmed the strikes, Vance said he and Trump feel good about the prospects for a negotiated settlement. Back-channel negotiations are ongoing as allies pressure Washington to avoid a full-scale resumption of the war. The conflict, which began eight months ago, has affected global gas prices and the U.S. economy, creating a vulnerability for the Republican Party seeking to hold Congress.

Thousands of U.S. troops remain deployed in the waters off Iran to maintain the naval blockade. Another aircraft carrier and additional troops are en route to the Middle East. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi called on both nations to engage in dialogue and avoid further military escalation.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator and parliament speaker, stated on Tuesday that the ball is in America’s court to prevent war. He warned that Iran’s armed forces remain at high defensive readiness. Qalibaf said that if Washington makes another strategic miscalculation, it will face a new battlefield and find itself in a more desperate situation than it is today.

Residents in Tehran watched the U.S. elections with mixed feelings. Reza Rezaei, 69, said the American people need to end the leadership of a president he described as extreme. Raheleh Movahhed, another resident, noted that while she is not criticizing the American people, she believes U.S. government policies have consistently been problematic for Iran.