U.S. Hits Iranian Targets in Hormuz

U.S. forces launched strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The limited operation targeted units using surface-to-air missiles against American assets in the waterway. Iranian state media reported explosions on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam and in the mainland area of Bandar Abbas. Officials confirmed the strikes were not publicly announced, a departure from earlier phases of the conflict.

The attacks occurred on the eve of Tuesday's midterm elections. President Donald Trump had previously stated the U.S. would not strike Iran before the vote. The war and its impact on gasoline prices have been a political vulnerability for the Republican Party as it seeks to maintain control of Congress. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said the strikes aimed to counter Iranian air defense systems in the strait.

Diplomatic efforts continued alongside the military action. Iran announced a two-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks with the United States. The waterway carries about a fifth of the world's oil supply during peacetime. Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf told state television on Tuesday that Iran had delivered a firm response to the U.S. He warned that Iranian armed forces remained at high defensive readiness and said Washington would face a new battlefield if it made another strategic miscalculation.

Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Monday that he and President Trump felt optimistic about the prospects for a negotiated settlement. He spoke before the U.S. official confirmed the new strikes. Thousands of U.S. troops remain in the waters off Iran to maintain a naval blockade on oil tankers. Another aircraft carrier and additional troops are en route to the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for further strikes after the elections, according to regional officials. A return to full-scale war could help Netanyahu form an emergency government after his coalition lost its parliamentary majority in last week's votes.

Iran opened a third military training center in Tehran on Monday. Authorities announced plans to train one million paramilitary volunteers nationwide. Members of the Basij, a force affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard, attended the inauguration. Ali Kowsari, the Basij’s deputy head for training, said 1,500 training bases would begin operating across the country this week. The Janfada campaign, which began registering volunteers in March, covers courses in urban defense, weapons handling, and air defense. Two similar centers opened in Tehran in August and September.

Mediators are working to advance a framework for Iran to cease attacks in the strait in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. More talks are planned for this week. The two officials discussing classified briefings from American and Israeli sources spoke on condition of anonymity. The third person briefed on the Netanyahu-Trump call was not authorized to comment publicly.