Iran Says US Fired Projectiles at Qeshm Island in New Sunday Night Attack

Iran said on Sunday night that the United States fired projectiles at Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, reporting four explosions on the strategic island as the nine-month-old war entered another dangerous week. The claim, carried by Iran's state news agency IRNA, came hours after President Donald Trump told CNN that a fresh American attack was "highly unlikely" while negotiations keep progressing.

IRNA said several locations on Qeshm were struck and that blasts heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik were related to actions by Iranian forces in the strait. The agency gave no damage or casualty figures. Washington has not confirmed US involvement, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked on Monday before a G7 meeting in Paris, did not directly confirm new strikes but said the United States will take defensive actions.

Key Points

• IRNA reported on Sunday night, November 8, 2026, that the US military fired "projectiles" at Qeshm Island after four explosions there.
• Several locations were struck, according to Iran, but no damage or casualty figures were released.
• The United States has not confirmed involvement, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined on Monday to confirm a new strike.
• The report followed President Donald Trump's remark to CNN that a fresh attack was "highly unlikely" if talks keep progressing.
• It capped a violent weekend in the strait, a day after unexplained coastal blasts and fires aboard three tankers.

What Happened

IRNA first reported four explosions on Qeshm on Sunday night, then said the US military had fired projectiles at the island. The agency said blasts heard in Bandar Abbas and Sirik, in Hormozgan province, were related to actions by Iranian forces in the strait. It did not say what the projectiles hit or whether anyone was hurt. It came a day after unexplained Saturday-evening explosions at Qeshm, Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas, and hours before three tankers caught fire after hitting mines. By Monday morning Washington had offered no confirmation, and Rubio would not say whether American forces had fired on Qeshm.

Background: Nine Months of War Around the Strait

The war between the United States and Iran began on February 28, 2026, and is now in its ninth month. Qeshm, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, sits at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Control of the island and the strait has been at the centre of the conflict from the start.

Washington has already struck Qeshm once: on November 2, US forces hit an anti-aircraft facility there in what the administration called a limited defensive action after Iran used surface-to-air missiles against American assets. Trump later confirmed the strike, calling it a "minor attack" and saying "it wasn't war". Our report: Trump confirms US strike on Iran's Qeshm Island, calling it a 'minor attack'. Five days later, two missiles struck Qeshm again, according to Iran, in an attack Tehran did not immediately attribute to any party. Our report: Two missiles strike Iran's Qeshm Island in new Saturday attack, Iran says. Diplomacy has continued: Vice President JD Vance said on November 2 that Washington had made "progress" in talks, with no deadline for a deal.

Qeshm Island Attack: What We Know and What We Don't

What is known is limited to the Iranian account: four explosions, several locations struck, and no independent account of the damage. IRNA linked the blasts in Bandar Abbas and Sirik to Iranian forces' actions in the strait.

What is not known is almost everything else: what was hit, what the projectiles were, and whether anyone was hurt. The United States has not confirmed the strike, and Rubio's refusal to confirm it leaves open the possibility of another cause, including Iranian air-defence activity or an accident. The timing makes it hard to dismiss: Trump had said a fresh attack was "highly unlikely" if talks keep progressing, hours before the IRNA report.

Reactions and Quotes

IRNA's report was terse, saying only that the US military had fired "projectiles" at Qeshm and that several locations were struck, without naming a source inside the Iranian military.

Rubio, asked on Monday whether the United States had carried out new strikes, would not confirm them, saying only that the United States will take defensive actions. Trump told CNN a fresh attack was "highly unlikely" if negotiations keep progressing, and on November 2 he said a deal was "coming together very nicely". Vance said on November 2 that Washington had made "progress" in talks toward a negotiated settlement, and that there was no deadline: "No, we haven't set deadlines." He said the top US priority is a verifiable commitment that Iran will not rebuild its nuclear programme.

Why It Matters

The Strait of Hormuz carries about one-fifth of global oil, and every incident moves energy markets. Brent crude rebounded above 106 dollars a barrel earlier in the week, and insurers and shipping firms have been rerouting vessels or demanding steep premiums. The fires aboard three tankers on Sunday (full report: Three tankers catch fire in Strait of Hormuz after hitting mines, Iran says) showed how quickly a military incident can become a shipping disaster.

The report also tests the diplomatic track. Trump and Vance have both said negotiations are making progress with no deadline set, while the United States has kept military and non-military options open. A confirmed strike would sit uneasily with that message; an unconfirmed claim leaves both sides room to keep talking. For the region, it is a reminder the war is not contained.

What Happens Next

The first test is whether Washington confirms or denies the strike; the Pentagon and White House have not commented, and Rubio's remarks in Paris may be the first official response. The second is the negotiation track: Qatari mediators returned to Doha on Monday evening, and there is no deadline, according to Vance. The third is the strait itself, where mines, burning tankers and warships make miscalculation likely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the United States attack Qeshm Island on Sunday night?
Iran says so. IRNA reported US forces fired projectiles at the island after four explosions. The United States has not confirmed it, and Marco Rubio declined to confirm new strikes on Monday.

Was anyone killed or hurt?
No damage or casualty figures have been released.

Why is Qeshm Island important?
Qeshm is the largest island in the Persian Gulf, at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. The US struck an anti-aircraft facility there on November 2.

What did President Trump say about new attacks?
Trump told CNN a fresh attack was "highly unlikely" if negotiations keep progressing. He had earlier said a deal was "coming together very nicely".

Is the war between the US and Iran still going on?
Yes. The war began on February 28, 2026, and is in its ninth month, with fighting continuing alongside diplomatic contacts and no deadline set for a deal.