The United States has struck Larak Island in southern Iran, marking the first attack against the country since late July, a US official confirmed. Tehran immediately vowed to retaliate for Sunday’s attack, risking a renewal of military confrontation as the US shifts its strategy.
The strikes occurred as the US-Israel war on Iran enters its seventh month, with the US moving from a bombing campaign to a financial pressure strategy. A US official stated that the strikes targeted launchers positioned to fire rockets carrying mines towards the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Fars News Agency initially reported hearing explosions near the island. Later on Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the attack by the “American-Zionist enemy.” The IRGC reported that the strike resulted in the killing and injuring of several soldiers.
“This act will be responded to by the sons of Islamic Iran and will result in punishment of the aggressor,” the IRGC declared in a statement.
In recent weeks, the US has asserted control over the strategic waterway, claiming to facilitate the passage of millions of barrels of oil through the strait under its military protection, despite Iran’s blockade. However, attacks on ships in Hormuz have been reported almost daily, and Iran maintains that the strait remains closed.
Sunday’s strikes underscore the US’s continued willingness to employ military force. This comes despite a broader focus on sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran to make concessions regarding its nuclear program and its claims of control over Hormuz.
Historically, Iran has responded to similar US attacks by launching missiles and drones at military bases hosting US troops in neighboring countries. Last week, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced an intensified effort to financially isolate Iran, threatening secondary sanctions against countries and companies conducting business with Tehran.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has cautioned that the US remains prepared to use military force if necessary. US officials have been promoting a narrative of Iran’s diminishing control over Hormuz, arguing that the country is on the brink of economic collapse due to sanctions and the military blockade of its ports.
Tehran, however, has remained defiant, emphasizing its readiness for a prolonged conflict. On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed reports that the US is successfully moving large quantities of oil out of Hormuz.
“Our intelligence shows major efforts to game energy markets,” Araghchi wrote on X. “US Govt elements use gullible media to influence prices for personal gain and keep [Trump] mired in a losing war. Israel-aligned actors also promote war with rosy assessments. U.S. consumers feel the real bottom line.”
Despite reports suggesting the US is ending, or at least easing, Iran’s control of Hormuz, oil prices have remained elevated amidst supply uncertainty. The average price of one gallon (3.8 liters) of petrol in the US is still over $4, a significant increase from less than $3 when the US and Israel initiated the war in late February.
These skyrocketing energy prices are fueling inflation in the US, a factor that could potentially harm President Trump’s Republican Party’s prospects of retaining control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
