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The United States has resumed military strikes against Iran, targeting Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz, in the latest escalation of the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
The attacks, carried out on Sunday, marked the first direct U.S. military action against Iran in about a month and renewed concerns about the security of the strategically important waterway, which is a major route for global oil shipments.
The United States cites the threat to maritime navigation
US Central Command said the operation targeted Iranian forces who were preparing to deploy rockets and sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the US military, the action was intended to prevent attacks on commercial vessels and protect the movement of ships through the strategic waterway.
U.S. officials described the operation as limited and precise, saying the strikes were carried out after American forces detected preparations to lay sea mines that could threaten civilian sailors and international shipping.
The development comes after US forces recently completed mine clearance operations along international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran reacts
Iran responded to the attacks by firing ballistic missiles at U.S. military installations in Jordan, and Jordanian authorities said many missiles were intercepted.
Iranian authorities have condemned the American operation as an act of aggression and warned that further attacks could trigger a stronger response.
The latest firefight has raised fears that the conflict could once again spread to the Gulf region, where Iran and the United States have military resources and strategic interests.
The clash also comes after weeks of relative calm between the two countries, following previous military exchanges and diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions.
Hormuz remains strategic
The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman, remains at the center of the latest confrontation due to its importance for international energy supplies.
The waterway provides an important passage for oil and other energy exports from Gulf countries to international markets. The disruption to shipping through the strait has therefore raised concerns about the possible effects on global oil prices and energy security.
Although US President Donald Trump has maintained that the strait remains open, the volume of maritime traffic has remained significantly below pre-conflict levels.
More fighting could further discourage commercial ships from using the route and increase pressure on global energy markets.
Oil prices rose following the latest trade between the United States and Iran, reflecting investor concerns about possible disruptions to supplies and shipments through the waterway.
Trump threatens further action
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may take further action against Iran following the latest attacks.
The American president’s position signals that the renewed attacks could mark the beginning of another phase of military pressure on Tehran, despite previous diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, however, has shown an interest in diplomacy, with Tehran arguing that a continued military confrontation would not serve the interests of either side.
The latest escalation has consequently renewed international concerns about the possibility of wider conflict in the Middle East, particularly if attacks on military installations or commercial shipping continue.
For now, attention remains focused on the Strait of Hormuz, where any prolonged military confrontation could have consequences beyond the United States and Iran, particularly for global energy markets and international maritime trade.
