US Strikes Iranian Rocket Sites As Tehran Warns Of Decisive Response
US forces have struck Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz after Washington said Iranian forces posed an immediate threat to commercial shipping, triggering renewed tensions between the two countries and a warning from Tehran that it would respond.
The strikes targeted two Iranian rocket launch sites on Larak Island, a small Iranian island at the eastern end of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official. American officials said Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces had been preparing rockets armed with sea mines for launch into the strategically important waterway.
US Central Command described the operation as a limited and precise action against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps minelaying forces. CENTCOM said the forces represented an imminent threat and that the operation was intended to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and the continued movement of global trade.
The US action came after American authorities had said the main shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz had been cleared of mines. Officials said they were continuing to monitor the area closely because of concerns that Iranian forces could attempt to deploy additional mines or otherwise threaten maritime traffic.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical international shipping route through which a substantial proportion of the world's energy supplies normally passes. Any disruption to the waterway could therefore have consequences well beyond the immediate region, particularly for oil and gas markets and international shipping.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps condemned the American operation and warned that the attack would be met with a response. The statement, carried by Iran's official news agency, said the US action would lead to punishment for what Tehran described as aggression.
The confrontation subsequently widened beyond the immediate area around the Strait. Jordanian state media reported that the country's air defence systems intercepted eight missiles after Iran launched an attack following the US strikes on the Iranian rocket sites.
Jordanian authorities said the missiles were destroyed before they could threaten civilians or property. However, two Jordanian security sources later told ABC News that some missiles were not successfully intercepted, although no casualties were reported.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was not seeking war but would respond decisively to what he described as aggression. He also warned that Iran would not remain passive in the face of attacks, while arguing that continued instability in the region would not serve the interests of any country.
The latest exchange represents another escalation in a conflict that has already involved repeated military strikes and counterstrikes between the US and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the central flashpoints, particularly because of its importance to international maritime commerce.
The latest American operation also follows warnings from President Donald Trump and US military officials about attempts to place mines in the waterway. Washington has repeatedly said that maintaining freedom of navigation through the strait is a major priority for US forces in the region.
Iran, meanwhile, has continued to insist that it will defend its interests and respond to military attacks. The latest comments from President Pezeshkian indicate that Tehran is seeking to avoid an unrestricted war while maintaining a willingness to retaliate against further strikes.
The situation has also raised concerns among neighbouring Gulf states, where several countries host US military personnel and facilities. Any further escalation could increase the risk of attacks spreading beyond Iran and the Strait of Hormuz into surrounding countries and military bases.
The United Arab Emirates said its air force had responded to an unmanned aerial vehicle detected over its territorial waters and approaching from Iran. Emirati authorities did not confirm Iranian claims that Al Minhad Air Base near Dubai had been targeted by missiles.
The renewed confrontation comes despite earlier diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching an agreement to end the wider conflict. US and Iranian delegations entered negotiations in June, but military tensions have continued, with the strategic waterway remaining a major source of disagreement.
For now, US forces say the latest strikes were carried out to remove an immediate threat to maritime traffic, while Iranian officials have warned that further American attacks could trigger additional retaliation. The competing positions leave the region facing renewed uncertainty over whether the latest exchange will remain limited or develop into a broader confrontation.
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