After Qeshm Strikes, Iran Sees No Early End to the War

A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that his country “will not accept excessive US demands”, arguing that the two countries remained far from an agreement to end the war.

Speaking anonymously to Reuters, the official said Iran was “ready to respond forcefully to US strikes, both within the region and beyond”, after the United States attacked Qeshm Island in southern Iran early on Tuesday.

The official stressed that “Tehran’s conditions must be met if the United States wants to reopen the Strait of Hormuz”, adding that “nuclear talks can begin after that”.

“Mediators are making intensive efforts to narrow the differences between Tehran and Washington,” the official added.

The remarks come amid intensified diplomatic efforts, with Qatar acting as the principal mediator, aimed at preventing a possible renewal of the conflict after the US midterm elections.

Earlier, a US official confirmed that the United States had carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the strikes appeared limited and did not constitute a resumption of major combat operations.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the attack was the latest in a series of limited strikes carried out by Washington in recent weeks.

Fox News, citing officials, reported that the strikes were defensive and came in response to Iran firing on a US aircraft.

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump had suggested that attacks on Iran could resume after Tuesday’s congressional midterm elections. On Monday, however, he indicated that he might change his mind.