US and Iran Exchange Strikes Over Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran engaged in a series of direct military exchanges on September 1, 2026, following a US assault on Larak Island. The initial US operation targeted rocket launchers to prevent Iran from deploying sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in three Iranian deaths and several injuries.

Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at US military positions in Jordan, including the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, and deploying a drone toward the United Arab Emirates. While Jordan intercepted eight missiles and the UAE neutralized the drone, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described the strikes as a "legitimate act of self-defense". The US responded with a fresh wave of airstrikes against the Guard in southern Iran, targeting sites in Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, and Konarak.

President Donald Trump threatened further forceful action, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced weekly secondary sanctions against Iranian financial institutions. Conversely, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled a preference for diplomacy during a summit in Kyrgyzstan, though he expressed skepticism about peace talks due to US violations of the Islamabad memorandum.

The escalation has severely impacted energy markets, pushing Middle Eastern oil benchmarks above $100 per barrel. Mediation efforts by Qatar, Oman, Pakistan, and Egypt have so far failed to break the impasse or reopen the strategic waterway.