The United States carried out limited defensive strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, three US officials told CBS. A senior official said the strikes followed fire by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard at an American aircraft; another said they were a defensive measure against Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets. A US official told NewsNation they hit radar and missile launchers. Iranian state media had reported several explosions on the island earlier in the day. Officials said the strikes were limited in scope and not a resumption of major combat operations. Central Command did not respond to requests for comment. Qeshm, the largest island in the Gulf, hosts an underground missile site, a naval base and a major desalination plant. Reports of the strikes were published after midnight UTC; the strikes themselves are dated November 2.

[CBS] [ABC] [Reuters via Al-Monitor] [The Hill/NewsNation]

The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the strikes, said they were the latest in a series carried out by Washington in recent weeks, and an official told ABC that US airstrikes in recent weeks had not been publicized, to avoid signalling a resumption of major combat. This tracker had stated since September that no US strike on Iranian territory had been reported; that statement reflected public reporting and is now known to be incomplete. The unconfirmed claim of a US strike near Sirik on October 22, logged on Day 238, may belong to that series; it remains unconfirmed. Site-wide text has been updated.

[ABC] [Reuters via Al-Monitor]

Trump said a deal with Iran could happen and that "Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible," and claimed oil prices had fallen by almost $10 a barrel on expectations the war would end. Asked whether he was considering striking Iran after the midterms, he said no. He later called the conflict a very soft war and said US forces could strike further targets in one hour. Vice President Vance said the US felt pretty good about the prospects of a deal but required a firm and verifiable commitment that Iran would not rebuild its nuclear programme. Axios reported Netanyahu was pressing Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterms, while Trump wanted to let negotiations play out.

[Al Jazeera] [Newscord/Reuters] [Fox] [Gulf News/Axios]

Iranian state media said Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had granted the government powers to accelerate talks with Washington, and President Pezeshkian said the government had been given certain authorities. Foreign Minister Araghchi said consultations through Qatar and Pakistan were extremely intensive and described a two-day plan: the US would implement a set of measures on day one, and Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal navigation on day two; no conclusion had been reached. A diplomat told the Times of Israel the agreement under discussion would see Iran swiftly reopen the strait in exchange for US sanctions relief, followed by comprehensive nuclear talks, and that Qatari mediators were back in Tehran. An Iranian spokesman said Tehran did not expect a new America after the midterms. Iran’s news agency claimed another tanker was on fire after hitting a mine, a claim not independently verified.

[Al Jazeera] [Times of Israel] [Gulf News] [CBS]

Tracker status holds at WAR RESUMED. Day 248 shows both instruments in use on the same day: a limited US strike on Iranian soil, officially described as defensive and not a resumption of the war, and a diplomatic track both capitals now describe as close. Trump pledged on October 8 that there would be no US strikes on Iran before the vote; the reporting reviewed does not address how Monday’s strikes relate to that pledge. The midterms are today; Netanyahu wants strikes after them, Trump says he is in no hurry. No ceasefire is in force.