US and Iran resume exchange of strikes after month-long pause
The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes for the first time in more than a month. American forces attacked two Iranian missile launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, after which Tehran launched a missile and drone attack on American military bases in Jordan.
On Sunday, August 30, US forces struck two launchers on Iran's Larak Island near the country's southern coast. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were preparing to launch missiles intended for laying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM called the operation "limited and precise" and stated that Iranian forces were posing an immediate threat to shipping. The US military had previously announced the completion of demining of international shipping lanes in the strait and warned that attempts to lay new mines would be countered.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps called the American strike a "strategic and fatal mistake" and promised a response. On the night before Monday, Iran announced a missile and drone attack on two American military air bases in Jordan.
The Jordanian Armed Forces reported that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered the kingdom's airspace. According to the Jordanian military, the missiles were destroyed before they could pose a threat to the population or property.
The current exchange of strikes is the first such escalation between the US and Iran since the end of July. Washington last reported large-scale strikes on Iranian military facilities on July 29. In recent weeks, the administration of US President Donald Trump has shifted emphasis from military operations to increased economic pressure and secondary sanctions against Tehran.
The escalation occurred amid a dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the key routes for global energy supplies. The US seeks to ensure the passage of commercial vessels, while Iran links the shipping regime in the strait to broader negotiations on regional security. Meanwhile, direct talks between Washington and Tehran remain suspended, although Iran and Oman continue to discuss a possible mechanism for resuming maritime traffic.
The oil market reacted to the new escalation. After the American strike, Brent rose 2.8% to $90.57 per barrel, and US crude rose 2.7% to $85.64 per barrel.
