The U.S. has confirmed that it carried out limited strikes against surface-to-air missile sites on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the strikes were not intended to signal a resumption of the war but were a response to Iran firing at a U.S. aircraft. The Times of Israel reports that indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran are still ongoing, although Iranian officials say an agreement remains out of reach.
In recent weeks, Trump has hinted at renewing attacks on Iran after the US midterm elections on Tuesday, with reports saying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been pushing him to resume large scale strikes against Iran.
On Monday, the US leader indicated he might be thinking otherwise. “Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible,” he posted on his Truth Social Platform.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said indirect talks were taking place. “Given the sensitivity and gravity of the current situation, consultations and deliberations are very intensive,” Araghchi told state media.
On Tuesday, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has been Tehran’s chief negotiator in talks with the US, said that while Iran was ready for war it had given Washington a “rational response.”
It was also reported that a British vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile. The attack left a hole in the side of the ship, but fortunately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that all crew members were safe. Iranian officials said some of the mines laid during the early days of the war remain active in the area, while the U.S. military maintains that the mines have been cleared.
Meanwhile, President Trump claimed that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed that the U.S. will stop providing military aid to Israel by the end of the year – though the current memorandum of understanding between the two nations does not expire until 2028. Netanyahu has previously discussed gradually ending U.S. military aid over the next decade rather than eliminating it all at once. Trump has also said that the U.S. would continue providing aid to Israel in the event of an emergency.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the continued friendship between the U.S. and Israel, and for the American people as they exercise their right to vote in this year’s midterm elections. We also pray for the U.S. military and the IDF as they work to maintain peace and security in the Strait of Hormuz and Gaza.