World taz
Suspected US attacks: USA apparently attacks Iranian island of Keshm
In October, the US President announced that there would be no attacks in the Strait of Hormuz before the midterm elections. Now an island is said to have been hit. more...
Deutsch (original) ·Auto-translated to English
ap | Shortly before the midterm elections, the United States carried out attacks on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a government official. The target was Iranian units that used surface-to-air missiles against US facilities, the representative told the AP news agency. Iranian state television reported explosions on Keshm Island, the largest island in the strait.
The British Navy's maritime trade watchdog (UKMTO) had previously reported an attack on a ship in the strait. It was said to have been hit by an unknown bullet that tore a hole in the fuselage. The crew members are safe.
The U.S. attacks appeared to be limited and did not indicate a full resumption of fighting. They came on the eve of the important midterm elections in the USA. US President Donald Trump previously said he would not order attacks on Iran before Tuesday's election.
Iran virtually closed the strait, through which about a fifth of the world's crude oil is shipped during peacetime, after the Israeli-American attacks began in late February. It now claims control of passageways and opposes a route through Omani waters.
Iran has repeatedly warned ships not to transit the strait without Tehran's permission. It has repeatedly claimed responsibility for attacks on ships that it says were traveling on unauthorized routes. Other ships were damaged by sea mines planted by Iran. The US military, however, has said it has cleared mines along internationally recognized routes in the strait.
Iran says it has presented a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington meets its demands. The proposal remains the basis for negotiations with the US through mediators, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai said on Monday. It also provides for the resumption of nuclear talks. Tehran had previously allocated a week for the implementation.
US Vice President J.D. Vance said he spoke to Trump about negotiations with Iran. “The president and I are both quite confident about the prospects for a possible negotiated settlement,” he said Monday.
The unpopular Iran war and its consequences for gasoline prices and other areas of the economy are seen as a weak point for Republicans in their efforts to defend their majorities in the US Congress.