After a month-long pause in military activity, tensions have once again escalated in the Persian Gulf region, with the United States confirming strikes on Iranian facilities near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
US Central Command said the strikes were carried out following recent attempts by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to target commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and US troops deployed in the region.
Earlier on Sunday, the US military said it had struck rocket launchers located on Iran’s Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran subsequently launched missiles targeting a US military base in Jordan, but the missiles were intercepted and destroyed. The United Arab Emirates also said it had shot down an Iranian drone in its territorial waters.
US President Donald Trump has described Iran as a “failed state” following weeks of joint US-Israeli bombardment. Trump claimed that much of Iran’s political leadership had been killed, its economy had been weakened by soaring inflation and its military had been devastated.
However, Trump also acknowledged that further strikes could become necessary.
“That doesn’t mean we won’t go after them again. Let’s see what happens,” Trump told reporters.
The United States and Iran have been engaged in intermittent conflict for more than six months, although tensions eased somewhat during August. Since the conflict began, Iran has repeatedly targeted US military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries.
A renewed full-scale confrontation could pose a serious security threat to the wider Middle East, particularly around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that explosions were heard in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. It did not provide further details.
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