US breaks weeks-long pause in strikes against Iran by attacking Larak Island; Tehran attacks US bases in the Middle East

US forces attacked Iranian rocket launchers near Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday night, in their first confirmed military action against Iran in a month, breaking a week-long lull in fighting. Iran quickly promised retaliation and state television later showed what it said were ballistic missiles fired at US bases in Jordan.Jordanian forces said they intercepted eight missiles that entered the country’s airspace early Monday. Meanwhile, Iran International also reported that explosions were heard at US bases in Qatar. These attacks have not been confirmed by US officials.The US Central Command alleged that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard forces had been preparing to launch rockets laced with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz when they came under attack. Centcom spokesman Tim Hawkins said the US military had observed the preparations, the AP reported. The United States had completed clearing sea mines from international shipping lanes in the strait the previous week.Semi-official Iranian media, cited by the AP, reported the explosions near the island of Larak, while the Revolutionary Guard acknowledged that several of its fighters and civilians had been killed or wounded.The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security commission, Ebrahim Azizi, condemned the attack, tellingHe then made another statement in English, adding: “Test our will once again and pay a higher price. Retaliation is coming; JUST RUN!”The attack marked the first confirmed US strike against Iran since July 29, when Washington said it had launched a “strong wave of attacks” against dozens of Revolutionary Guard targets, including coastal defense and surveillance sites. President Donald Trump later said on August 1 that he would postpone further attacks following calls from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The latest military action came days after the Trump administration said it would prioritize economic pressure over new attacks in an effort to force Tehran to end the war. The strategy involved threatening sanctions against countries and entities that continue to do business with Iran.Revolutionary Guard spokesman Gen. Hossein Mohebi called Sunday’s attack a “fatal mistake” and warned that Washington would face military and economic consequences.The administration’s reliance on sanctions also comes as U.S. officials weigh depleted ammunition stockpiles after more than six months of conflict, raising concerns about the impact on U.S. military readiness elsewhere.Trump has increasingly downplayed the prospect of a quick end to the war, saying last week that he was “in no rush” to get Iran back into negotiations. He has continued to argue that Iran’s leadership and military capabilities have been severely weakened.Iranian officials, however, have maintained a defiant stance. Recent appointments to senior security positions have signaled Tehran’s intention to continue resisting pressure despite years of sanctions and internal repression.Trump has repeatedly said the US-Israel campaign has devastated Iran’s navy and air force. Tehran estimates that the conflict has caused around $270 billion in direct and indirect damage, while Israeli attacks in the first weeks severely weakened Iran’s political leadership.Despite those losses, Iran retains significant influence across the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route. Tehran has attacked ships in and around the waterway, where commercial traffic has fallen sharply since the war began.The strait normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil, but relatively few tankers carrying crude and liquefied natural gas are now willing to risk the route. Iran still possesses enough drones and missiles to threaten ships passing through the waterway.Oil prices rose after Sunday’s US strike, with US crude gaining 1.8% to $84.94 a barrel and Brent crude gaining 1.9% to $89.79.Iran has also maintained that the United States cannot use the Strait of Hormuz until Washington meets its obligations under a memorandum of understanding signed with Tehran in June, even after Iran and Oman reach a management agreement for the waterway.Trump has repeatedly said the strait is “open,” noting that 24 ships passed through it last week. That figure is still far below the approximately 130 ships that passed through there each day before the war.A multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy said commercial traffic remained at “reduced levels” on Sunday. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Organization said an unidentified projectile hit an oil tanker north of Khasab, Oman, on Saturday. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.The US military said it had diverted 83 commercial ships and disabled three others as part of its blockade of Iranian ports.