Washington: The United States has carried out a fresh strike against Iranian military positions near the Strait of Hormuz, ending a month-long pause in confirmed US military action against Tehran. The development has raised fresh concerns about a possible return to open hostilities in a region already facing months of conflict.
According to US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins, forces linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were preparing to launch rockets and deploy sea mines in the strategic waterway when US forces attacked the launchers.
The strike came shortly after the US military said it had completed operations to clear sea mines from international shipping lanes in the strait.
Explosions were reported near Larak Island, according to semiofficial Iranian news agencies. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later acknowledged casualties, saying several fighters and other people had been killed or wounded.
Iran Signals Military Response
Iran has threatened retaliation following the American attack. Iranian state television subsequently broadcast footage it described as ballistic missiles being launched toward US bases in Jordan.
Jordanian authorities said eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace were intercepted early Monday. The developments have added to fears that the latest exchange could widen the conflict beyond Iran and the immediate waters of the Gulf.
The US had last confirmed a strike against Iran on July 29, when it said it had conducted a large-scale operation against several Revolutionary Guard targets, including coastal defence and surveillance facilities.
The following week, President Donald Trump said Washington would refrain from further attacks after appeals from Gulf allies including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Washington Had Shifted Towards Economic Pressure
The latest military action comes days after the Trump administration indicated that it intended to place greater emphasis on economic measures and sanctions rather than additional military operations.
The strategy includes increasing pressure on countries and organisations that continue commercial dealings with Tehran. Iranian officials, however, have warned that the latest American strike will carry both economic and military consequences.
The prolonged conflict has also raised questions over US weapons stocks and military readiness. After months of operations, concerns have emerged that depleted ammunition supplies could affect America’s ability to respond to crises elsewhere.
Strait of Hormuz Remains a Major Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of Iran’s most important sources of leverage. The narrow waterway is a crucial route for global energy supplies, with around one-fifth of the world’s oil normally passing through it.
Traffic has fallen sharply since the conflict began, with relatively few oil and liquefied natural gas carriers continuing to use the route. US officials have nevertheless maintained that the waterway remains open.
Oil prices moved higher following Sunday’s attack. US crude rose 1.8% to $84.94 a barrel, while Brent crude, the international benchmark, gained 1.9% to reach $89.79.
Iran has also maintained that the United States cannot use the waterway under a proposed arrangement involving Oman unless Washington fulfils its commitments under an agreement reached in June.
Commercial Shipping Remains Disrupted
Although Trump has repeatedly said the Strait of Hormuz is open, shipping activity remains substantially below pre-war levels. The US president said 24 vessels crossed the waterway last week, compared with roughly 130 vessels a day before the conflict.
A US Navy-led multinational coalition also reported that commercial traffic remained at reduced levels.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organisation said an unidentified projectile struck a tanker north of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday. No deaths, injuries or environmental damage were reported, and no group immediately claimed responsibility.
The US military said it had redirected 83 commercial vessels and disabled three others as part of its blockade of Iranian ports as of Sunday.
The latest strike and Iran’s subsequent warning of retaliation have once again placed the Strait of Hormuz at the centre of the wider conflict, with any further escalation potentially carrying consequences for regional security and global energy markets.
