U.S. forces conducted airstrikes on Iranian rocket launchers located in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking their first military action in a month. This strike interrupts a period of relative calm in a conflict that has persisted for over six months. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed to retaliate against what it termed a deadly attack.
According to Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Central Command, Iranian forces were preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait. The U.S. military had recently completed operations to clear sea mines from international shipping routes in the strait.
Reports from Iranian semiofficial news outlets indicated explosions near Larak Island in the strait. The Revolutionary Guard stated that several of its fighters had been killed or injured in the attack.
The ongoing conflict has seen Iran targeting U.S. military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries since it began on February 28. The last confirmed U.S. military action against Iran occurred on July 29, when the U.S. announced extensive strikes on Revolutionary Guard targets. Following this, President Donald Trump indicated on August 1 that he would refrain from further military strikes at the request of Gulf allies, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The recent attack comes shortly after the Trump administration announced a shift in strategy, focusing on increasing economic pressure on Iran rather than military action. This strategy includes threats to penalize any country or entity that continues to engage in business with Iran.
Iranian officials have characterized the U.S. attack as a significant error, with General Hossein Mohebi of the Revolutionary Guard warning of consequences. The U.S. has expressed concerns about its munitions stockpiles due to the prolonged conflict, which may affect military readiness elsewhere.
Trump's previous assertions of a swift end to the conflict appear to be waning, as he noted last week that he is "not in a hurry" to negotiate with Iran. Recent appointments within Iran's security leadership suggest a continued defiance against U.S. pressure.
The Iranian government claims to have incurred $270 billion in damages due to the conflict, while U.S. and Israeli operations have reportedly weakened Iran's naval and air capabilities. Despite this, Iran maintains its ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passes.
In response to the U.S. attack, crude oil prices increased, with U.S. oil rising by 1.8% to $84.94 per barrel and Brent crude increasing by 1.9% to $89.79 per barrel.
Iran has asserted that the U.S. cannot operate in the strait without fulfilling its obligations under a memorandum of understanding signed in mid-June. While Trump has claimed the strait remains open, the volume of commercial traffic has significantly decreased since the onset of the conflict.
Earlier on Sunday, a multinational coalition led by the U.S. Navy reported that commercial traffic through the strait was at reduced levels. Additionally, a British military monitoring agency reported that an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship near Khasab, Oman, with no casualties or environmental impact reported. The U.S. military stated that it has redirected 83 commercial vessels and disabled three as part of its blockade of Iranian ports.