US Hit Iran's Qeshm Island After Missile Flew at American Aircraft

The United States was behind the strike on Iran's Qeshm Island, according to US media reports, and the trigger was an Iranian missile fired at an American aircraft. Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a missile at a US aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a US fighter jet to take out the surface-to-air missile launcher in self-defense. A US official echoed that framing to NewsNation, describing the operation as a defensive measure.

The target sits in contested territory. Multiple explosions shook Qeshm on Monday, with as many as six blasts heard near the island and the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, per unverified reports. Iranian air defenses were activated at the Omidiyeh Airbase in southern Iran, and blasts were also reported in Bandar Lengeh. Earlier, the IRGC claimed it downed an advanced US drone over the Strait of Hormuz.

This may not be a one-off. The Wall Street Journal said Washington has carried out several smaller strikes against Iran in recent weeks without publicly acknowledging them, aiming to avoid the impression that a broader military offensive had resumed. That quiet-footprint approach now collides with an increasingly loud headline.

Diplomacy is still running in parallel. Qatar has stepped up efforts to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran, with a new delegation arriving in the Iranian capital on Monday, The Times of Israel reported, citing a diplomat familiar with the negotiations. Mediators have been shuttling in and out of Tehran since last week. The latest proposal reportedly ties Iran's reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to US sanctions easing, with talks also covering the country's nuclear file.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters Monday that 'some progress' has been made in talks with Iran, but stayed cautious about a deal. He denied Tehran was handed a deadline before military action resumes, while stressing that President Donald Trump keeps both 'kinetic' and non-kinetic options if diplomacy fails. Vance repeated that Washington's top concern is preventing Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program.

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani also phoned Lebanese counterpart Nawaf Salam on Monday to discuss regional developments and efforts to stop further escalation, according to Qatar's Foreign Ministry, expressing support for initiatives on maritime navigation and a comprehensive regional peace. Markets stayed mixed: oil held near $96.38 a barrel, gold sat around $3,946.75 an ounce, and the tech-heavy USTEC index slid 1.39% while the Dow added 0.42%.