Iranian president says new war with US benefits no one after reported strikes on Qeshm

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that renewed war with the United States would benefit no one and that his government wanted the crisis resolved through talks. The statement came a few hours after reports of US strikes on Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, five explosions took place on the island one after another. No clear information emerged on the extent of the damage or on possible casualties. The Wall Street Journal had reported limited strikes, citing unnamed US officials.

US President Donald Trump confirmed the strike in an interview with Fox News. He said the target was an Iranian air defence facility and that it was a minor operation. He also raised the possibility of targeting a suspected underground Iranian nuclear site. The Israeli military has denied taking part in the operation.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran had the right to legitimate defence. Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran was ready for war and that the responsibility for stopping it lay with Washington.

According to Pezeshkian, the Supreme Leader has given the government additional authority to hold talks on issues that were earlier considered off limits. Tehran is also demanding an end to the US naval blockade and a guarantee that any agreement will be implemented.

Indirect contacts between the two sides are continuing through Qatar. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said proposals were being reviewed and hope of an agreement remained. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Monday that talks were continuing, while US Vice President JD Vance spoke of some progress.