Trump carries out fresh attack on Iran just after declaring victory in war

WASHINGTON, DC: Standing at the Lincoln Memorial on Monday, Nov 2, President Donald Trump claimed the US had won its standoff with Iran. He insisted that American forces now control the Strait of Hormuz, an area Iran sees as vital, and hinted that a deal might be near.

That night, The Wall Street Journal revealed US troops targeted Iran’s Qeshm Island, quoting unnamed officials. The Journal also reported a string of secret strikes against Iranian targets over the past few weeks. When pressed, US Central Command stayed silent.

Trump claims that ‘we control the Strait of Hormuz’

At the Lincoln Memorial, Trump described the conflict as finished.

“We had a war with Iran. We won,” Trump said. “I don’t even know if you call it a war because we haven’t been doing any fighting for months, you know?”

“We control the Strait of Hormuz. We control it and strongly control it,” he added.

Trump also suggested Monday that a diplomatic breakthrough was possible, attributing falling oil prices to expectations that another war would be avoided.

“Iran wants a settlement as soon as possible. It could happen!” he wrote on Truth Social.

What the journal reported

According to the Journal, the strikes on Qeshm Island were part of operations that have gone unannounced.

The strikes have gone unannounced, with one official telling the outlet that the administration has sought to avoid giving the impression that it is preparing to restart a full-scale war, and others characterizing the operations as defensive measures to limit Iran’s ability to threaten commercial vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.

As the Journal pointed out, Qeshm Island is home to Iranian military infrastructure, including a naval installation and an underground missile facility.

In an interview with Axios on Monday, Trump said he wasn’t in a hurry to approve another military attack. This came after rumors swirled that his administration might launch a major operation right after Tuesday’s midterms.

Earlier, The Journal reported that US officials warned Gulf countries to get ready for a fast but intense military campaign after the election.

Still, administration insiders told the paper that Trump hadn’t made up his mind yet. On Monday, when someone asked if he planned new strikes after the midterms, he just said, “no.”

All the reports paint a picture of a time when the administration pushed for a public stance focused on reaching a settlement and keeping the Strait under control. Behind the scenes, the Journal says they carried out a few actions, labeling them as defensive, but so far, the administration hasn’t shared specifics about what those were.

No official statements confirm whether the Qeshm strike was included, and the Journal’s story bases its claims on anonymous sources.

The conflict has been a major issue in the midterm campaign, where voters have raised concerns about prices for gas and groceries. Polls close Tuesday, and any decision on further military action is expected to follow the election. Trump has said an agreement with Tehran remains possible.