American forces struck Iranian positions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan, and President Trump is warning that more U.S. strikes could follow.
WASHINGTON The United States and Iran have exchanged direct military attacks for the first time in about a month, raising concerns that the six-month conflict could return to heavier fighting. President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States would respond strongly after Iran fired missiles toward American military bases in Jordan. Iran has warned that any new U.S. attack will bring a larger response.
The latest round began Sunday when U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, a small island near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. official said members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were preparing launchers that could place sea mines in the waterway. U.S. Central Command described the action as limited and precise and said the Iranian forces created an immediate threat to shipping.
Iran gave a different view of the attack. The Revolutionary Guards said Iranian military personnel and civilians were killed or wounded. Iranian reports have given different death totals. Reuters reported that the Tasnim news agency said three people were killed, while other Iranian officials cited by The Associated Press reported two deaths. Those casualty numbers have not been independently confirmed.
Iran responded overnight by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. military bases in Jordan. U.S. officials said air defenses intercepted the missiles that could have caused damage. No significant damage or new American casualties had been reported as of Monday. The attack marked the first direct Iranian strike on U.S. forces since late July.
The fighting also spread farther across the Gulf on Monday. The United Arab Emirates said its military intercepted an Iranian drone over UAE territorial waters. Officials reported no damage. The UAE called the incident a dangerous violation of its sovereignty. Iran’s military also claimed that Al Minhad Air Base near Dubai had been targeted, but the UAE Defense Ministry said that claim was false.
Trump said Iran should expect another American response. He told Fox News that the United States would “hit them hard.” Earlier Monday, Trump posted two computer-generated videos that appeared to show explosions at Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal. Reuters determined that the videos were created with artificial intelligence and that no attack on Kharg Island had taken place. Vice President JD Vance later said Trump was using the post to send Iran a message.
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the center of the conflict. Before the war, about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passed through the narrow waterway. Shipping has fallen sharply since fighting began. Iran says it has the right to control passage through the strait, while the United States says international shipping must be able to move through safely. Washington has also warned that Iranian vessels attempting to place new mines in international waters could be destroyed.
The renewed fighting quickly affected energy markets. Brent crude oil rose more than 2.5% Monday and closed above $90 per barrel. Higher oil prices can eventually increase gasoline and transportation costs in the United States and other countries. The war has already disrupted normal oil shipments through the Gulf.
The United States has also increased economic pressure on Iran during the recent pause in major fighting. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington plans to continue using sanctions against Iranian financial networks and countries or businesses that help Tehran. Iranian officials say the sanctions are harming ordinary civilians and have called them illegal. Iran’s economy has been badly weakened during the war, with Reuters reporting annual inflation of 66% in July.
Despite the new attacks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that Iran still supports a negotiated end to the conflict. He said continuing the war is not in the interest of Iran or the wider region. Other Iranian military officials have taken a harder position and warned that U.S. bases could face heavier attacks if Washington strikes Iran again.
The conflict began on Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli attacks inside Iran. Iran responded with attacks on Israel and countries that host American forces. Reuters reports that 18 U.S. service members have died during the conflict. Fighting slowed during August as Washington increased economic pressure and diplomats worked on proposals involving the Strait of Hormuz, but those efforts have not produced a lasting settlement.
The next step is now uncertain. The United States says its latest strike was necessary to stop a threat to shipping, while Iran says it was an act of aggression that justified retaliation. With both governments warning that they are prepared to strike again, the weekend attacks have ended a month of relative calm and created a new risk of another major round of fighting.
