Trump administration takes optimistic tone on Iran while launching new strike

A US official described Monday’s attack as “a defensive measure for Iranians using surface to air missiles against US assets.” The Trump administration is offering a more optimistic tone on diplomacy with Iran — even as the US quietly launched an attack on Monday. Vice President JD Vance told reporters earlier in the day that he and President Donald Trump “both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement,” as the president downplayed the urgency of deciding whether to resume operations. A US official described Monday’s attack as “a defensive measure for Iranians using surface-to-air missiles against US assets.” Hopes of a diplomatic deal sent oil prices tumbling yesterday, ahead of elections that could erode Republicans’ grip on Washington and complicate the White House’s push for more war funding. Mediators have continued to push for an agreement between the US and Iran, though The Wall Street Journal reported that Monday’s strike was one of “a series … secretly carried out.”