In brief
President Donald Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out minor strikes against Iranian air‑defence sites on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, citing defensive actions amid diplomatic talks. Iranian state media reported missile attacks and a drone interception, while U.S. Central Command described the situation as relatively calm. Qatar dismissed claims that U.S.–Iran negotiations had failed.
In the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. carried out minor strikes against Iranian air‑defence systems on Qeshm Island, a crucial shipping base for oil transit, according to President Donald Trump on Friday.
Trump said in a West Palm Beach, Florida, interview that U.S. forces had “knocked out” a small anti‑aircraft battery in about 15 minutes. He described the action as defensive, adding that the U.S. made “a lot of progress” in talks with Tehran.
We do minor strikes…They knocked out – they built a little bit of an anti‑aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five.“The President’s remarks came as Iranian state media reported two missile strikes in the Suza area of Qeshm Island that were attributed to Iran and a claim that an American MQ‑9 drone was intercepted and destroyed by Iranian forces. The Iranian national broadcaster IRIB said the army had shot down the U.S. drone over the island.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East, responded to reports of explosions with a statement that the situation remained “relatively calm.” A CENTCOM spokesperson told Al Jazeera they were aware of the reports but offered no further comment.
In a separate post on X late on Friday, the U.S. offered a reward of up to $20 million for information about Iran’s nuclear program, including the locations of facilities, equipment and related personnel. The reward was described as potentially enabling relocation for individuals with knowledge of the program.
Trump reiterated that Washington was in talks with representatives from Tehran. He said the U.S. administration was “dealing with them now” and that Iran was ready to “make a deal.” No details of the negotiations were released.
Among regional reactions, Qatar dismissed reports that U.S.–Iran negotiations had collapsed. Qatari officials warned that such claims were unsubstantiated and could benefit those opposed to a peace deal.
