Trump's statement on Hormuz: "We could be invaders"

US President Donald Trump argued that military operations against Iran did not qualify as a war and noted that the situation in the region could be called an occupation.

Answering the questions of the press after his speech at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Trump made evaluations about the Washington administration's military presence in the Middle East.

Describing the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine as war, Trump claimed that operations carried out in the context of Iran were excluded from this definition.

Claiming that a situation in which no one is injured for six months cannot be called a war, Trump pointed to the strategic waterways in the region.

Stating that the Strait of Hormuz is under Washington's control, Trump said: "Maybe we can only be occupiers. Because the Strait of Hormuz is under our control. We are currently extracting more oil than at any time in the history of the Strait of Hormuz."

On the other hand, the US Department of Defense announced that the number of soldiers who lost their lives during the war that started with the US and Israel's attacks on Iran increased to 23, according to the data published in October.

QATAR CONTINUES ITS MEDIATION TRAFFIC

Diplomatic contacts continue in the Gulf region during the period when tensions rise.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani stated in his statement to Al-Jazeera television that they are continuing their mediation attempts between the USA and Iran in order to prevent the crisis from getting out of control at the regional level.

Stating that the Washington administration maintains its desire to find a compromise ground after the midterm elections, Al Thani pointed out that the US side's interest in reaching an agreement has not changed.

Expressing that significant progress has been made in the negotiations, Qatar Prime Minister Al Thani shared his confidence that a final solution can be reached.

In his assessment of the goal of diplomatic efforts, Al Thani said, "We cannot expect to reach a perfect agreement; we hope to reach a good agreement."

While diplomatic contacts continue, signs of hot military activity are observed in the field.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that, according to initial findings, two missiles hit Qeshm Island.

The news noted that there is no official information yet regarding possible damage or loss of life on the islands.

US authorities have not made a statement about any attack against targets within Iranian territory.

Regional countries were considering the possibility that Trump, who paused his attacks in the weeks before the midterm elections held on Tuesday, could restart the operations as soon as the voting ended.

The Tehran administration has repeatedly declared that it will respond to new operations by hitting US and Israeli targets in neighboring countries.

TEHRAN'S SEVEN DAY PLAN

The conditions and proposals between the parties regarding the solution of the crisis remain in conflict.

Iran has been keeping in effect the seven-day solution plan it submitted to the Washington administration since September.

This offer, which the Trump administration has rejected so far, includes lifting the blockade of Tehran's ports.

Tehran's plan also includes the release of frozen financial assets and approval of an Iran-backed route through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the proposal, if the conditions in question are met, the controversial waterway, which has been closed to international trade, will be reopened to maritime traffic.