Donald Trump says he feels no urgency to widen the fight with Tehran, yet American forces hit Iran’s Qeshm Island on Monday. The latest Iran strike came on the eve of the midterm elections and extends a run of quiet, limited operations.
The timing of Trump’s remarks and the reported US military action
Monday brought two developments that sit awkwardly together. Early in the day, Donald Trump told Axios: “One way or the other, we will do something, but there is no rush.” Later, U.S. officials told CBS that Washington had hit Qeshm. Iranian state media reported several explosions on the island (via BBC).
The officials gave the outlet a reason: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired on a U.S. aircraft, and the response was kept limited. Other officials called the recent strikes defensive, meant to stop Iran from threatening commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has not announced them. One official alleged the silence is deliberate, so Washington avoids hinting at a return to large-scale combat (via The Wall Street Journal).
Meanwhile, the midterm vote will decide which party controls Congress. Trump faces slipping poll numbers and pressure from his own party to end a war that began in February, when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.
For weeks, he has raised the prospect of all-out war once voting ends. On Monday, a reporter asked whether he was considering a strike on Iran after the midterms. He answered “no,” though administration officials claim he is still weighing every option.
Moreover, Iran says the next move belongs to Washington. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said “the ball is in the U.S. court.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described “very intensive” talks through mediators and said Tehran was ready for either a “wise path” or the “mistake of military aggression.” Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and other officials have warned that Iran would retaliate beyond the Middle East if fighting resumes.
