US strikes Iran air defence system, Trump calls action ‘minor’

US President Donald Trump said the American military carried out fresh strikes on Iran on Friday, targeting an Iranian air defence system, even as Tehran weighs proposals conveyed through mediators to end the eight-month-old conflict. Trump described the latest military action as "minor", while continuing to keep the threat of further strikes alive.Iranian state media reported hearing two explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, located in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil shipments. The reports came after Trump confirmed the strikes while speaking to reporters shortly after arriving in West Palm Beach, Florida."They knocked out -- they built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five," Trump said, without providing further details about the target, as reported by AP.US officials have previously said that most of Iran's air defence systems were destroyed or severely degraded during Israel's June 2025 bombardment and the initial phase of the current conflict. However, Washington believes Tehran would seek to rebuild its air defences and other military infrastructure over time.The latest strikes follow US military action on Monday, which Washington described as defensive. Explosions were reported on Qeshm and Hengam islands in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.The fresh strikes come amid uncertainty over the direction of the conflict, with Trump alternating between threats of further destruction and suggestions that a settlement could be within reach.On Thursday, Trump warned that Washington could take further military action against Iran, while saying he would prefer to avoid additional destruction."I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I'll have to. You will know soon enough," he told reporters at the Oval Office.On Iran's nuclear programme, Trump asserted that Tehran could not proceed without Washington's approval, saying, "They're not doing anything without our approval."At the same time, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict appear to be continuing. Iran has reportedly sent a fresh proposal on its nuclear programme to the US through Qatar. Tehran has indicated that negotiations would depend on Washington addressing its demands, including lifting sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets and paying reparations. The US is reviewing the proposal, even as Trump has refused to rule out further military action.Midterm setback adds to pressure on TrumpFriday's strikes were the first since Trump's Republican Party suffered a major setback in Tuesday's US midterm elections. Voter dissatisfaction over the administration's handling of the Iran war and the resulting rise in fuel prices contributed to the political pressure on the president.The conflict, which has disrupted energy supplies and affected economies across the world, has also widened beyond Iran, with tensions spilling into the Red Sea amid attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels and retaliatory military action in the region.The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint, given its importance to global oil shipments.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.