The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes after American forces attacked two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first known US strikes against Iran since late July.
US Strikes Larak Island
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said two people were killed and two others injured in the American attack. The IRGC vowed to respond to what it described as the latest US aggression.
US Central Command said its forces had carried out “limited, precise action” against Iranian forces involved in laying mines, which Washington said posed an imminent threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state-linked media reported that drones were used in the attack on Larak Island, which lies close to Bandar Abbas and directly alongside the strategically important waterway.
Iran Reports Attacks on US Bases
Iran later said it had launched retaliatory strikes against American military facilities in Jordan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said ballistic missiles targeted the King Hussein and Al-Azraq bases.
Jordan’s military said it intercepted eight missiles early on Monday.
Iranian state television also reported that the country’s military had attacked a US air base in the United Arab Emirates using drones. However, the UAE Ministry of Defence rejected the claim that Al-Minhad Air Base had been targeted, describing the report as unfounded. The ministry confirmed that a drone had been shot down.
Iranian Foreign Minister officials described the strikes against US bases as a legitimate act of self-defence following the attack on Larak Island.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was not seeking war but would respond decisively to those responsible for attacking the country.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Flashpoint
The latest escalation has further increased tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Larak Island is located near Bandar Abbas and sits along the narrow waterway separating Iran from the Gulf states. Before the conflict began, around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies travelled through the strait.
Since the conflict began in February, maritime traffic through the waterway has effectively been disrupted, contributing to major fluctuations in global oil prices.
Iran has demanded that tankers passing near Larak Island undergo checks and has reportedly required vessels to pay about $2m (£1.5m) to cross.
The United States and Israel launched extensive strikes against Iran on 28 February, prompting Iranian attacks on Israel, US bases and allied countries in the Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz is approximately 21 miles (33km) wide at its narrowest point and lies between Iran, Oman and the UAE. International maritime rules allow countries to exercise control over territorial waters extending up to 12 nautical miles from their coastlines.
Trump Signals Continued Pressure
US President Donald Trump has previously threatened further action against Iranian targets and has maintained pressure on Tehran through both military and economic measures.
After the latest strikes, Trump posted apparent AI-generated videos on Truth Social showing oil infrastructure exploding, including one labelled “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens!!!” Kharg Island is home to a major Iranian oil terminal.
Trump had previously said Iranian mines placed in the Strait of Hormuz had been removed or detonated and warned that any vessel attempting to deploy new mines would be destroyed. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi dismissed that claim as propaganda.
Washington has also intensified economic pressure on Tehran. On 24 August, the US announced new sanctions aimed at further isolating Iran and expanding secondary sanctions against countries and entities that support it.
Meanwhile, the US naval blockade of Iran remains in place. Centcom said on Saturday that its forces had disabled three vessels, boarded two others and redirected 82 as part of the ongoing operation.
The latest exchange of strikes has raised concerns that military tensions between Washington and Tehran could intensify further, particularly around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
