President Donald Trump declined Friday to say whether the U.S. was responsible for reported missile strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, while acknowledging that American forces have conducted limited strikes against Iranian air defenses.
Asked by a reporter whether the U.S. carried out the reported strikes, Trump responded, "I don't want to talk about it. We do minor strikes, but they knock out. They built a little bit of an anti-aircraft device, and we knocked it out in about 15 minutes, maybe five."
Iranian state media reported that two projectiles struck the Suza area of Qeshm Island, according to Reuters.
Trump did not specify where the U.S. operation he described took place or whether it was connected to the reported strikes on Qeshm Island.
President Donald Trump's top advisers are divided over whether to resume military strikes against Iran or continue negotiations, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff favor diplomacy, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper support renewed military operations, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. officials.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly favor maintaining economic pressure through sanctions and the blockade.
The disagreements come as Trump weighs further strikes following Republican losses in Tuesday's midterm elections. The president said Friday that Iran wants to reach an agreement with Washington.
The State Department warned Americans in the Middle East on Friday to remain vigilant amid increased threats of armed attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants and potential targeting of U.S. government officials.
In a security alert posted on X, the department's Bureau of Consular Affairs urged Americans in the region to exercise heightened caution and prepare for possible travel disruptions.
The department warned that Iranian-backed Houthis pose an increased threat of armed attacks and that Iran is attempting to target American government officials in the region.
U.S. citizens were also advised to monitor country-specific security alerts and remain aware of potential flight cancellations and airspace closures.
The warning comes as tensions remain high across the Middle East, with President Donald Trump weighing renewed military strikes against Iran while Washington and Tehran continue diplomatic negotiations.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran is eager to reach an agreement with the United States, citing economic troubles and damage to Tehran's military capabilities as Washington considers its next steps in the conflict.
During a gaggle with reporters, Trump was asked who persuaded him to pursue negotiations after launching military strikes against Iran.
"Nobody," Trump responded, defending the strikes and arguing that Iran would have posed a greater threat to Israel and other countries in the region if it had obtained nuclear weapons.
"We're dealing with them now. They want to make a deal very badly," Trump said.
The president also pointed to Iran's economic difficulties, asserting that inflation had reached 300% and that its navy had been destroyed.
Iran is demanding concrete action from Washington before advancing nuclear negotiations, with a senior official saying Friday that Tehran will no longer rely on written U.S. commitments.
Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, accused Washington of repeatedly violating its commitments over the past 18 months, according to state-run IRNA, as reported by Iran International.
“Iran needs to see the US’s practical actions, and [then] the groundwork for opening a new chapter would be prepared,” Bagheri said.
The remarks come as Washington reviews a nuclear proposal submitted by Tehran through Qatari intermediaries, while President Donald Trump considers renewed military strikes against Iran.
The U.S. is offering a reward of up to $20 million and possible relocation assistance for information about Iran's nuclear program, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Friday.
In a post on X, CENTCOM highlighted the State Department's Rewards for Justice program, which is seeking information about Iran's nuclear facilities, equipment and personnel involved in the program.
The reward also covers information about the movement of nuclear-related materials, equipment or personnel, including individuals in the scientific community.
The announcement comes as President Donald Trump considers renewed military strikes against Iran while Washington and Tehran continue negotiations over the country's nuclear program.
Trump reiterated Friday that Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, pointing to previous U.S. military operations targeting Tehran's nuclear facilities.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump reiterated Friday that Iran would never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, pointing to previous U.S. military strikes against Tehran's nuclear facilities.
Speaking at the UP Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Trump credited American B-2 bombers with preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
"And you know what? If they did have it, if we didn't go in with those beautiful B-2 bombers a little more than a year ago, if I allowed them to have it today, there would be no Israel. It would have been wiped off the face of the earth, and there would be no Middle East," Trump said.
"We will never let that happen. Iran will never, ever have a nuclear weapon. You can rest assured," the president added.
Trump's remarks come as his administration considers renewed military operations against Iran while continuing diplomatic negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.
Qatar pushed back Friday against reports suggesting negotiations between the United States and Iran had collapsed, insisting that both countries are continuing efforts to reach an agreement.
In a statement, Qatar's International Media Office rejected online reports alleging that Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had said Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal.
The office accused unnamed parties of misrepresenting the prime minister's comments and spreading misinformation to undermine diplomatic efforts.
"His Excellency’s remarks have been deliberately distorted by those who benefit from continued war and instability in our region," the statement read. "Many of these claims are being spread by fake accounts trying to undermine diplomatic efforts and push for further escalation. This is deeply irresponsible. His Excellency stated today that both sides are continuing to work towards a deal."
Qatar said its mediators remain in close contact with both countries as negotiations continue.
Three incoming Jewish members of Congress are calling for the release of Arab journalist Abed Abu Shehadeh, who was detained in Israel after interviewing a fugitive former lawmaker.
Brad Lander, Steve Weiner and Daniel Biss sent a letter to Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter expressing concern about Abu Shehadeh's detention, according to The Times of Israel.
The journalist was arrested Tuesday after interviewing former Israeli lawmaker Azmi Bishara, who fled Israel in 2007 amid suspicions that he aided Hezbollah during the previous year's war in Lebanon.
The lawmakers said Israeli authorities detained Abu Shehadeh on suspicion of contact with a foreign agent and that the allegations against him remain sealed.
They called for his release, arguing that interviewing controversial political figures is a fundamental part of journalism.
{{#rendered}}Lufthansa Group is reportedly changing flight operations to Israel to prevent crew members from staying overnight in the country through Nov. 30 as concerns grow over renewed fighting with Iran.
The airline group, which operates Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, plans to use crew-change stops in Athens and Larnaca, Cyprus, for certain flights, according to Israel's N12 News, as cited by The Jerusalem Post.
The adjustments could result in schedule changes or cancellations for some passengers.
The reported restrictions come as President Donald Trump considers renewed military strikes against Iran following meetings with his national security team this week.
Washington and Tehran are also continuing diplomatic negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
The Trump administration announced sanctions Friday against eight Canada-based currency exchange businesses accused of helping Iran evade U.S. financial restrictions.
The Treasury Department said the businesses facilitated transactions involving sanctioned Iranian entities, including cryptocurrency activity linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
"Canada cannot be a safe haven for illicit financial facilitators that provide sanctions evasion services to the Iranian regime and its proxies," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
Several businesses also allegedly helped launder drug proceeds tied to former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding, according to Treasury.
The sanctions come as Washington and Tehran continue nuclear negotiations, with Iran demanding relief from U.S. economic restrictions as part of a proposed agreement.
A student-run food festival at Northwestern University was canceled after several campus organizations objected to the inclusion of a pro-Israel student group, according to reports.
The event, organized by Spoon University Northwestern, faced opposition after Wildcats for Israel was invited to participate. Three student organizations issued a joint statement criticizing the group's involvement, while nearly all participating groups reportedly withdrew from the festival.
Organizers subsequently removed Wildcats for Israel from the event and apologized for its inclusion, according to The Times of Israel.
The Daily Northwestern reported that the festival was ultimately canceled following the dispute.
{{#rendered}}California Post opinion editor Joel Pollak defended President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war Friday, arguing that Americans will eventually appreciate his decisions despite the political fallout from the midterm elections.
Speaking on Fox News' "Life, Liberty & Levin," Pollak said Trump had fulfilled his campaign promises by confronting Iran and securing the U.S. border, even when those decisions carried political consequences.
"Trump had a responsibility that he took seriously to do what was in the national interest," Pollak said. "Sometimes being president means you have to make those tough decisions."
Pollak argued that previous administrations had avoided confronting Tehran because of the potential political repercussions.
"This is why nobody confronted Iran, because it has a political cost. But in the long run, the American people will be grateful for it," he said.
Pollak also compared Trump's political challenges to those faced by former President Ronald Reagan, noting that Reagan lost eight Senate seats during his sixth year in office but later became widely respected.
"Now, just because you lose Congress doesn't make you a great president. But both Reagan and Trump have done things that were very difficult, sometimes politically unpopular, but absolutely necessary," Pollak said.
President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. is continuing talks with Iran and expressed optimism about the negotiations, even as his administration weighs renewed military strikes against Tehran.
"We are doing very well with Iran. We're talking to Iran," Trump told reporters during a gaggle Friday.
"We have been we haven't lost a soldier in seven months or six months. We have the Hormuz Strait opening, doing more business than they've ever done with oil. And we're doing very well. And we are talking to them," the president added.
His remarks come after Iran reportedly submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatari intermediaries Thursday, outlining demands that include sanctions relief, compensation for war damages and a reduced U.S. military presence in the Middle East.
Trump met with his national security team this week to discuss whether to resume military operations against Iran.
A planned Israeli operation inside Iran was reportedly derailed after an Israeli security official inadvertently alerted the U.S. to the mission, prompting Washington to intervene.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mossad chief Roman Gofman had reportedly planned the operation ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 election, according to Israel's Channel 12, as cited by The Times of Israel.
Senior Israeli security officials opposed the mission over concerns that it could escalate tensions with Tehran and interfere with the election, the report said.
The intended target and details of the operation were not disclosed, and the allegations have not been independently verified.
The report comes as President Donald Trump weighs renewed military action against Iran following meetings with his national security team this week.
{{#rendered}}Iranian authorities are reportedly distributing iodine tablets to residents near the country's nuclear facilities amid concerns about a potential attack as President Donald Trump weighs renewed military strikes against Tehran.
An Iranian health ministry official told The Times that authorities had sought to distribute the tablets to communities within two to three kilometers of nuclear facilities during each war.
The newspaper also reported that an Iranian political journalist was told during a recent briefing that officials were seriously considering the possibility of a U.S. nuclear strike on Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected underground nuclear facility.
Iodine tablets can help protect the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine released during certain nuclear incidents, but they do not protect against all forms of radiation exposure.
The reported precautions come as Trump considers resuming military operations against Iran following meetings with his national security team at the White House this week. The administration has not publicly indicated that it is considering the use of nuclear weapons.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared an image Friday showing an A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft preparing for takeoff from a military base in the Middle East.
The image shows a U.S. Air Force crew chief directing the aircraft with illuminated signaling wands. CENTCOM did not disclose the base's location or the aircraft's mission.
The post comes as President Donald Trump weighs renewed military strikes against Iran following meetings with his national security team this week.
President Donald Trump said Friday that "Israel and, in fact, the entire Middle East, WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY if I did not stop Iran from having a Nuclear Weapon.
"Nobody wants to say that, but everybody knows it’s true!" the president added in a post on Truth Social.
Trump made the remark after announcing earlier this week that $4 billion in U.S. aid to Israel would be "cut off" by the end of the year.
{{#rendered}}An Iranian military official vowed Friday that any country helping the U.S. in a potential new attack on Iran would become a legitimate target, a report said.
Brig. Gen. Ali Balali, who is a senior advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force, also said Friday that Iran's missiles have enough range to strike U.S. and Israeli targets, according to Iran's Tasnim News Agency.
The remarks come after reports emerged last week that movements were being made in the Middle East to give President Donald Trump options if he decided to pursue further military action against Iran following Tuesday's midterm elections.
Russia played a larger role in the Iran war than previously disclosed, with internal defense industry documents revealing how Moscow built up the country's arsenal ahead of its conflict with the U.S.
A Russian contract is tied to 90 launchers for precision-guided missiles with the destination as Tehran, according to documents obtained and published by Ukrainian defense intelligence research group Dallas Analytics offering new details on the extent of Moscow's military support for Iran before war erupted.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly downplayed Russia's role in the conflict — as recently as last month, saying that he did not believe they are helping Iran "at all."
Russian production records show components were allocated for 90 APU-L twin-rail launchers under a contract identified as "K-10," with shipments within the Russian production chain scheduled from late 2024 through December 2025.
Other internal Russian documents obtained by Dallas Analytics explicitly identify "K-10" as Iran. An October 2022 supply request for equipment for a Yak-130 aircraft lists the consignee as "'K10' Iran" and was countersigned by the acting head of the Russian Defense Ministry's 704th Military Representation.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said Friday that eight ships have been attacked so far this week in the Strait of Hormuz.
Since July 6, a total of 63 of 88 projectile strikes happened along a southern route near the coastline of Oman, according to the UKMTO.
There were also three ships attacked this week in the Arabian Gulf, it added.
"Of the 11 incidents, 3 continued their voyage, 5 required assistance and 3 Vessels sunk," the UKMTO said in a weekly overview, noting that the risk for ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz remains "severe."
{{#rendered}}Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., accused Pete Hegseth of "wasting taxpayer dollars" after the secretary of war posted a video to social media Thursday defending the Iran war and calling on Congress to approve a $350 billion budget request.
"Pete Hegseth, cabinet secretaries shouldn't be wasting taxpayer dollars on campaign style videos. Kristi Noem learned that the hard way," Tillis said in a post on X Friday.
"This is about you: the incompetence you’ve displayed, the bad advice you’ve given to the president, and your shameful and embarrassing episodes from firing our top generals to texting war plans to reporters," he added.
Tillis previously has called on President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth.
Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's supreme leader on international affairs, said Friday that, "Any energy or transit corridor that tries to bypass us will either become too expensive or unstable."
"Now that everyone is talking about the new order of West Asia, it should be noted that: Iran is a bridge between [the] Persian Gulf, Central Asia, Caucasus, and the Sea of Oman," he added on X.
"The domino effect of crises from Gaza to the Red Sea, and from Lebanon to Iraq, has shown that regional security is indivisible," Velayati said. "Either collective security is achieved, or everyone experiences collective insecurity."
“The tsunami of geopolitical changes in West Asia has engulfed the elections in Israel and the United States. The result: ‘Iran is now one of the principal architects of the regional order — a reality that can neither be eliminated nor replaced’,” Velayati also was quoted as saying Friday by Iran's Tasnim News Agency.
Vice President JD Vance privately accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being "wrong on everything" about the Iran war, according to reports, as disagreements over the conflict expose tensions within the Trump administration and raise questions about Vance's potential 2028 presidential ambitions.
The clash, reported by Axios Nov. 4., comes after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections and Vance publicly blamed the war for the party's defeat while urging President Donald Trump to pursue a negotiated settlement rather than renewed military strikes.
"The reason we lost is the war," Vance wrote later on Wednesday on X.
"Low-level hostility between Vance and Netanyahu is beneficial for Vance," Natan Sachs, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital.
"It allows him to give some distance from the Trump administration, which has just taken a huge electoral beating, but also to position himself ... in a very different position than President Trump himself without attacking Trump."
{{#rendered}}The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that aid provided by the U.S. has been used by Israel "both to defend itself and to confront enemies who threaten America and the West."
"U.S. military aid to Israel has always been a cross-the-aisle agreement," the office wrote on X after President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that $4 billion in aid would be "cut off at the end of the year."
"Today, Israel has a strong and stable economy. The move by PM Netanyahu and President Trump from aid to partnership shows the strength and sophistication of our relationship, and its ability to adapt and stand strong over time," Netanyahu's office added.
Trump said on Election Day, "Israel's our number one," and, "We give them more than anybody else, and they no longer need it."
Qatar said Friday that President Donald Trump called its leader Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to discuss "the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region."
The state-run Qatar News Agency said Al-Thani and Trump "discussed the latest international efforts, notably the initiatives led by the State of Qatar, to bridge the gaps between the concerned parties and support the negotiation process, to pave the road for reaching a comprehensive agreement that resolves the crisis and ensures security and stability in the region."
The call comes as Qatar is acting as a mediator in talks between the U.S. and Iran that are aimed at ending the war.
Qatar said Al-Thani also "emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue and embracing diplomacy as a means of resolving disputes; preventing further escalation in the region; and safeguarding freedom of maritime navigation and the security of energy supplies."
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) said Friday that a tanker ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz reported an explosion.
The incident happened Thursday about 16 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman, the agency said.
"The Master of a Tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz outbound, has reported an explosion at the waterline, port side," the UKTMO said. "The crew are safe and are accounted for. The tanker is still under its own power and is continuing on its voyage."
{{#rendered}}Saudi-led coalition spokesperson Col. Turki al-Malki said Friday that the country's air defenses intercepted two ballistic missiles "launched by the Houthi terrorist militia toward Najran."
"Debris fell as a result of the interception, and damage is being assessed," al-Malki added.
He later announced that a drone was "intercepted and destroyed" in the Mecca region.
In a security alert issued this week, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia said, "Iranian-supported Houthis have engaged in hostilities against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure resulting in civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.
"These hostilities have the potential to escalate rapidly beyond that immediate area," the message warned.
President Donald Trump met with his national security team Thursday to discuss whether to resume military operations against Iran, senior officials confirmed to Fox News.
There were meetings at the White House Wednesday and Thursday, the officials said.
Nov. 9 marks a new moon in the Middle East, meaning little to no moonlight — a condition favorable for military operations, they added.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier Thursday that Washington would “make a decision” on resuming the war.
“Do we want to go further” with strikes to ensure Iran's nuclear program is dead and that “it will never happen again?” he added.
“I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible, but maybe I will have to. You'll know soon enough.”
U.S. Central Command is finalizing preparations for a potential resumption of major operations in Iran but has not received a new directive from Washington, according to reports citing a U.S. official.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi also told Trump during a phone call Thursday that Iraqi territory must not be used to launch strikes against neighboring countries.
"Mr. Prime Minister affirmed Iraq's position calling for respect for the sovereignty of states, non-use of its territories as a launchpad for aggression against neighboring countries," the prime minister's office said in a statement on X.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage of the conflict with Iran.
Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this post.
Tehran submitted a formal nuclear proposal to the United States through Qatari intermediaries on Thursday, making further negotiations contingent on Washington addressing its seven demands, according to officials cited by Reuters.
Washington has received the document and is actively reviewing Tehran's proposal, the outlet said.
Iran is pushing a seven-point deal demanding U.S. compensation for war damages, an end to economic sanctions and the naval blockade of Iranian ports, and an end to hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon and Gaza.
Iran is also demanding the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, a reduced U.S. military presence in the Middle East and a permanent end to the war rather than a temporary ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that talks between Tehran and Washington would center on the proposal.
{{#rendered}}Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Congress Thursday to approve at least $350 billion in defense funding while pushing back against efforts to impeach him.
In a video posted to X, Hegseth defended his Pentagon overhaul, including eliminating DEI initiatives, removing military leaders and rebuilding recruitment.
"We need every vote from every patriotic member of Congress," Hegseth said, calling for a reconciliation bill of at least $350 billion to strengthen the military and defense industrial base.
The impeachment effort is being led by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who introduced eight articles against Hegseth in September, accusing him of violating congressional war powers during the Iran conflict and abusing his authority in other military operations.
Hegseth also defended the administration's military operations against Iran, describing the campaign as a historic effort to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Coverage for this event has ended.