President Donald Trump has declared that the United States has won its military confrontation with Iran, even as fresh strikes hit the strategic island of Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts appear stalled. Speaking on Sunday, Trump said renewed fighting was “highly unlikely” unless Tehran fails to agree to a new deal, describing Iran as a “failing nation” that is “withering away financially.”
“We won in Iran,” Trump said. “It’s just a matter of closing it out now.” He claimed the US had three aircraft carriers in the region and had identified infrastructure targets, including power plants and bridges. “We have 38 bridges in our sight that we can knock down in literally one hour,” he added, while expressing reluctance to do so. “I don’t like ripping down bridges,” he said, noting that rebuilding Iran’s infrastructure could take a decade.
Trump’s assertion of victory contrasts sharply with the Pentagon’s official count of 23 US service members killed since the conflict began in late February. The president insisted, “Again, we haven’t lost anybody. No soldiers.”
Strikes on Qeshm and the Strait of Hormuz
On Sunday evening, explosions were reported in Mahshahr, Qeshm, Sirik, and Bandar Abbas. Iran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed that a US projectile struck Qeshm Island, but said no other areas in Hormozgan province were hit. Sounds heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik were attributed to Iranian security operations in the strait.
Earlier, Iran’s navy announced that an oil tanker had struck a naval mine while crossing the strait and caught fire, claiming the vessel was using a prohibited route. Iran regularly labels ships transiting the southern route under US naval guidance as violating its rules. On Saturday, CENTCOM reported an attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman, saying it had repeatedly attempted to breach the US naval blockade. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two tankers had caught fire after hitting mines.
In a related move, CENTCOM announced the creation of a new task force to “support the ongoing efforts of the US government to prevent Iran from using land routes to transfer advanced weapons and other items.” Trump said the force was operating at full capacity alongside what he described as the largest naval blockade in history.
Rubio reports no progress, Iran dismisses his remarks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran’s demands were not only unacceptable but in some cases “overblown, ridiculous and really unrealistic.” He reported no progress in talks, saying steps taken so far had not been constructive and that US actions in the Strait of Hormuz were defensive. “I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough,” Rubio said. “Trump would always prefer to solve every problem diplomatically. Sometimes that's not possible.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected Rubio’s characterisation on Monday, saying that “pursuing the rights and interests of the Iranian nation was not unreasonable.” He reiterated that Washington must end sanctions, the naval blockade, and the war on all fronts before any negotiations could begin. Iran’s two-day proposal to restore security to the strait remains on the table, he added.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Democratic victory in the US midterm elections had paused the mediation process, with intermediaries not travelling for several days while the political situation settled. Writing on X, he said the US must now choose between accepting Iran’s conditions or resuming the war. “Americans are evidently sick and tired of Israel bamboozling US administrations into Forever Wars,” Araghchi wrote. “They had enough. So has our region.”
Qatar said Trump spoke by phone with Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to discuss reducing regional tensions. The White House said Trump would meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House. Araghchi said he had been in contact with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Pakistan, Kuwait, Jordan, Turkey, Cyprus, and Qatar.
In a separate interview with CBS, Trump said Iran was close to reaching an agreement but that the midterm result had given Tehran some hope. He said he was not looking to intensify the war and saw no reason to do so.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz has direct implications for European energy security, as a significant share of the continent’s oil and gas imports transit the waterway. European leaders have been watching the escalation with concern, with some calling for a de-escalation and a return to diplomacy. The European push for a unified voice in international talks extends to the Iran crisis, though no formal EU initiative has been announced. Meanwhile, European markets have reacted to the political shift in Washington, and any further disruption in the Gulf could have ripple effects across the continent.
