US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island as Trump hints at deal to end war
- US officials say limited strikes hit Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
- Iranian state media reported five explosions; the Pentagon referred questions to US Central Command.
- Oil prices fell over seven percent as Trump said a deal with Tehran "could happen."
The United States carried out strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island on Monday, according to US officials quoted by American media, even as President Donald Trump said a deal to end the eight-month war "could happen."
Qeshm is the largest island in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a large share of the world's oil normally passes. Shipping there has been largely blocked since the war began in late February.
Iranian state news agency IRNA reported five explosions in quick succession on the island, and said some residents saw two aircraft overhead. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, first reported the strike.
The Pentagon referred questions to US Central Command, which had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
Why it matters for Nigerians
Nigeria's economy runs on oil, and the price of crude shapes what government earns and what Nigerians pay at the pump and in the market. Any hint of the war ending tends to pull oil prices down, and that movement was visible on Monday.
Oil prices, which had jumped when Iran blocked the strait, fell by more than seven percent on Monday on optimism that the conflict could end.
Officials quoted by Reuters described the operation as limited and said it did not signal a return to major combat. One official called the strikes defensive, saying they targeted Iranian forces accused of firing surface-to-air missiles at American assets.
The Journal reported that Washington has carried out smaller strikes against Iran for several weeks without announcing them publicly, so as not to signal plans to resume large-scale operations.
Diplomatic efforts are also continuing. Qatar is involved in mediation between Washington and Tehran, and US Vice President JD Vance said on Monday he was optimistic about reaching a negotiated settlement.
Trump's comment came on the eve of midterm elections in the United States.
What happens next
Much depends on whether the talks Trump referred to produce a deal. If they do, the strait could reopen and oil prices could settle further. If the strikes continue, the risk of a wider confrontation remains, and that uncertainty will keep showing up in fuel and food prices far from the Gulf.
