Iran official: US strikes on Qeshm hit infrastructure, spared vital services

A local government official said Monday morning local time that recent US airstrikes on Qeshm Island in southern Iran damaged infrastructure, but the hits landed away from residential and commercial areas. The island's vital infrastructure and public services came through unaffected.

US forces launched repeated attacks on defense sites on Qeshm as tensions in the nearby Strait of Hormuz threatened to boil over into another round of full-blown conflict.

Trump told CBS' 60 Minutes that the war with Iran and high gas prices were among the main reasons Republicans lost last week's midterm elections. 'They didn't like the war. They didn't like the fact that gasoline went up,' he said, adding there is a 'great dislike, incredibly, for Israel.'

The president also said he would not strike Iran's power plants and bridges, arguing they would be very difficult to rebuild. He pointed to the recently announced operation 'Iron Gate' to strangle Iran's overland supply, telling reporters in Florida that 'nothing comes in by land' and the naval blockade means 'nothing comes in by water' — without explaining how the US would cut Iran's inland routes.

Trump insisted Washington 'saved' the Middle East and Israel by attacking Iran and eliminating its nuclear program, and defended US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against calls for his impeachment, saying he played a vital role in defeating Iran. 'Why didn't they impeach Lloyd Austin when he was missing in action for two weeks?' Trump asked.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said recent contacts with Iran have been 'unproductive,' calling Iran's demands 'simply unacceptable' and 'in some cases outrageous.' He said Washington remains willing to explore a diplomatic settlement 'if there is a chance,' even as the US tightens economic pressure.