President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that the United States is not engaged in a war with Iran, even after a limited strike on an Iranian air‑defence installation near Qeshm Island. He emphasized that the country is extracting more oil than before the hostilities began.
Trump described the operation as “minor,” saying the target – a small anti‑aircraft device – was neutralised within about fifteen minutes. He added that “nobody was hurt or killed in five months,” reinforcing his view that the situation does not qualify as a war.
The strike produced two audible explosions in the Suza area of Qeshm Island, a strategic point in the Strait of Hormuz used for oil shipments.
In a separate development, the US political climate regarding Israel is shifting. Within 24 hours, Trump hinted at the possibility of cutting military aid to Israel, a stance echoed by a newly elected senator and the vice‑president, who partly blamed their party’s recent defeat on US‑Israel relations.
Criticism of Israel’s Gaza campaign and settlement expansion has deepened divisions in the United States. Some Democrats now question long‑standing support for Israel, while certain Republicans argue that Israel has drawn the US into an unnecessary conflict with Iran.
Former Israeli ambassador Michael Oren noted a fundamental change, suggesting that calls to cut aid could be just the beginning of a broader policy shift.
On the Saudi front, Colonel Turki Al‑Malki announced that a Houthi‑launched cruise missile aimed at Riyadh was intercepted and destroyed by coalition forces.
Iranian officials, citing state media, claimed that their armed forces are “stronger” and more motivated than at the start of the conflict in February, citing experience gained from direct confrontations with the United States and Israel.
The US continues to deliberate further military options, while diplomatic talks on fresh air strikes remain ongoing.
