US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island as Trump hints at possible deal

Fishing boats sit idle on May 17, 2026, along the Strait of Hormuz at Qeshm Island, Iran. — Majid Saeedi/Getty Images WASHINGTON — The US military launched strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz overnight on Monday in what one official described as limited defensive strikes to inhibit further Iranian attacks in the waterway.The strikes came after a series of prior US strikes along Iran’s Hormuz coast in recent weeks, as the military has sought to clamp down on Iranian missile attacks while guiding commercial vessels through the strait.The latest strikes came after Qatari mediators held meetings in Tehran on Monday in a bid to forestall a resumption of the war between the two sides.In a shift in tone on Monday, US President Donald Trump suggested that a detente with Iran may be within reach, saying the latest proposal toward an agreement was “coming together very nicely.”Also on Monday, Vice President JD Vance said administration officials were optimistic about reaching a settlement to the war with Tehran. “We’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” Vance said at Joint Base Andrews.The latest US strikes were part of a periodic response to thwart Iran’s attempts to mount further missile attacks in the strait, a second US official said.The US military’s Central Command has not publicly announced the recent strikes, which the first official said would remain limited as long as Iran does not escalate its own attacks further. This one's on us. The story doesn't end here. Our correspondents are already on the next chapter. Read everything they file, from $2/week. Related Topics