Audio Briefing: Trump Says New Iran Strikes 'Highly Unlikely' as Ships Burn in the Strait

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says a new American offensive against Iran is "highly unlikely" if talks to end the war keep moving, repeating the phrase five times in a twenty-minute phone interview with CNN. This briefing covers the conditional offer, the targets Washington says it has already identified, and the limited strike on an Iranian air defence system that preceded it.

Hours before the interview, explosions were heard on Qeshm Island and in Jask, Sirik and Bandar Abbas, while both sides reported ships hit in or near the strait. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said two oil tankers caught fire after hitting mines, and the United States said its air force disabled a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman. The shipping war in the Strait of Hormuz continues even as diplomacy inches forward.

Iran's foreign minister says mediators have not travelled since the shock of the American midterm elections, while Qatar insists both sides are still working toward an agreement and Iran's nuclear proposal sits with Washington. For the background on the week's escalation, see our coverage of the secret strikes and the post-midterm debate in Washington. For the latest live updates and trending news, visit News Plus Globe.