US strikes in the Strait of Hormuz create more questions
Trending
What appeared to be a limited strike by the United States on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz hours before Tuesday’s midterm U.S. elections is raising questions about what’s coming next.
For weeks now, U.S. President Donald Trump has said he was considering launching a new wave of strikes on Iran after the elections. Just days ago, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed Trump for renewed military action, according to two regional officials and a third person familiar with the matter.
The Middle East and beyond have been on edge about the prospects of the U.S. resuming full-scale operations against Iran for the first time in almost two months.
Talks aimed at avoiding that are ongoing, and other American allies in the region are pressuring the U.S. not to resume the more than 8-month-old war that’s rattled the global economy and wreaked havoc on Iran.
Trump has alternated between threatening major strikes and pushing for a deal with Iran.
Iranian state media reported explosions being heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
A U.S. official, who wasn’t authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Monday that the strikes targeted Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against the U.S. in the strait.
The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Tuesday that the U.S. response to Tehran’s demands to end the war was not convincing.
Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei wrote on social media that the strait won’t reopen until the U.S. addresses Iran’s conditions.
Iran has offered to reopen the strait, and resume talks on its nuclear program if the U.S. lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports, waives sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and observes a ceasefire including in Lebanon.Some people in Tehran were hopeful that the midterm elections would bring a shift in U.S. policies.
“The American people need to make a fundamental decision and bring about real change. They need to put an end to the leadership of someone who is so extreme and who runs things through lies, someone who supports Israel, a country that is literally killing children,” said 69-year-old Reza Rezaei.
One woman was less optimistic.
“It doesn’t really make much difference who comes into power,” said Raheleh Movahhed, also of Tehran. “The American government and its policies have always had a problem with us. I’m not talking about the American people, mind you. I’m talking about their policies.”