The US carried out limited, defensive strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials who told CBS the strikes responded to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps fire on a US aircraft. Iranian state news agency Irna reported explosions on the island Monday. The IRGC said it shot down two US MQM-170 drones and one MQ-9 drone in the area.
The strikes occurred as mediators worked to prevent wider conflict following Tuesday's US midterm elections. President Trump told Axios he was "in no rush" to escalate strikes against Iran, stating "We crippled them financially. They have no money, no gasoline and their people are getting very tired of it." He also said the US "might need to go after Pickaxe Mountain," an underground nuclear site, but called this "not a big deal" and said it could be done in "one hour."
The Associated Press cited two regional officials saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed Trump during a weekend call for another wave of strikes after the midterms. Trump denied this when asked by reporters Monday.
Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tuesday "The ball is now in America's court to prevent war," adding Iran stood "ready for battle with its finger on the trigger" but had given "a powerful and rational response." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Irna that "very intensive" talks via Qatari and Pakistani mediators were underway.
Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said both sides were "reviewing the ideas and proposals" presented and remained hopeful of a deal. Last week Iranian negotiators discussed a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US met seven conditions, including lifting its naval blockade of Iranian ports and releasing frozen Iranian assets.