The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes over the weekend for the first time in more than a month, with Iran retaliating against U.S.-linked targets in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan after Washington struck Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military said it struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday that it said were preparing to fire sea mines into the strait. Iran’s armed forces said the strike killed military personnel and civilians.
Iranian retaliation
Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at U.S. forces and helicopters at an air base in the UAE and targeting bases in Jordan, which Iran said had been used to launch and support the U.S. strike on Larak Island. The UAE denied that its al-Minhad Air Base had been hit by missiles, though it said it intercepted drones launched from Iran over its territorial waters. Jordan’s armed forces said they shot down eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace.
Strait of Hormuz remains tense
Iran also said a supertanker that caught fire over the weekend had struck naval mines in the strait, halting the vessel. Tehran considers unauthorized passage through the waterway illegal, though international maritime law guarantees freedom of navigation through it. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was not seeking war but would respond decisively to any aggression.
Broader context
Sunday’s exchange was the first major clash between the two sides since July 29, when Trump had ordered a halt to U.S. strikes following discussions with Gulf allies. It followed weeks of rising tension and a fresh round of U.S. sanctions on Iran announced last week.
Trump separately posted what appeared to be an AI-generated video depicting an attack on Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export terminal, captioned “Kharg Island being blown to smithereens.” A senior Iranian oil official dismissed the claim, saying conditions on the island were calm and that repair work from earlier attacks was continuing.
The U.S. and Israel have said their goal is to topple Iran’s government since the war began in February, though Iran’s leadership remains in power. Washington’s focus has since shifted toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments that has driven up energy prices over the past six months.
