Qeshm: Trump confirms “small” strikes on Iranian air defences – Iran says it shot down an MQ-9 and an MQ-1

Donald Trump confirmed on Friday, November 6 that US forces struck Qeshm again, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, calling the operation “small strikes” against Iranian air defence. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, he said the Americans put an anti-aircraft system out of action “in about 15 minutes, maybe five.” Within the same 24 hours Tehran announced that it had shot down US drones over the same island, among them an MQ-9 and an MQ-1.

Iranian state media spoke of two missiles that fell in the Suza area of Qeshm. For its part, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the situation as “relatively calm,” while one of its officials said he was aware of the reports without adding anything. The same night CENTCOM announced a reward of up to $20 million for information on the Iranian nuclear programme.

These were the first US strikes since the midterm elections of Tuesday, November 3, in which the Republicans lost ground. On the eve of the vote there had been another round of “defensive” strikes in the same area, aimed at surface-to-air systems that, according to Washington, had turned against American assets.

The Iranian claims about the MQ-9 and MQ-1

The Public Relations Office of the Iranian Army claimed, in a statement issued in the early hours of Saturday, November 7, that its Air Defence Force shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper over Qeshm. It says “new air defence systems,” operating within Iran’s integrated air defence network, were used for the shootdown.

Earlier on Friday, the Revolutionary Guards had announced that their Aerospace Force shot down an MQ-1 at the same spot, the 16th of this type by their count. By their own tally the US MQ-1 and MQ-9 drones they have downed total 72, of which 56 are Reapers. The same day the Guards also declared the downing of two small MQM-170s. Washington has not confirmed any of the losses.

Talks continue, Trump says

Despite the strikes, the US president insisted that negotiations are progressing. “We are talking to Iran. We were already talking,” he said before leaving the White House, adding that the US had “beaten” Iran and that “a lot of progress” had been made. On Truth Social he had written earlier that Israel and the entire Middle East “would not exist today” had he not stopped Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Qatar, which is mediating, rejected reports that the talks had collapsed and urged both sides not to wait for the “perfect moment” for a deal. Tehran, which has already sent Washington a nuclear proposal via Qatar with seven conditions, sets as preconditions for nuclear talks the lifting of the blockade of its ports, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen funds and compensation for the damage of the war.