The United States launched fresh air strikes against Iranian targets on September 1, escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz after attacks on commercial shipping and renewed exchanges of fire between Washington and Tehran.
US Central Command said its forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran at 1600 GMT. It said the action followed recent attempted IRGC attacks against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and US service members deployed in the region.
Context: Strait of Hormuz shipping guide
Iranian media reported explosions at several locations. The country’s state broadcaster cited reports from Qeshm Island on the northern side of the strait, while state-linked Nour News reported explosions in Bandar Abbas and Chabahar. State news agency IRNA also reported hearing explosions in Jask and Sirik.
Related context: earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage
Operational context
The military action followed reports that two supertankers carrying Saudi oil were struck by unknown projectiles within minutes of each other while sailing outbound through the Strait of Hormuz late on August 31. Shipping intelligence and tracking firms Marisks and Kpler provided data on the incidents.
The developments renewed concerns over oil supplies from the Gulf and pushed crude prices higher. Brent crude futures, already 2% higher during the session, gained almost another 2% following reports of the tanker attacks.
Iran has effectively closed the strategic waterway to shipping and has warned that it will prevent oil exports from the Gulf if pressure on Tehran continues. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf was quoted by Iranian media as saying that if Iran were prevented from exporting oil through the Persian Gulf, other countries would also be unable to do so.
US President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian retaliation would lead to further strikes at a “much harder and higher level.” An IRGC spokesperson, cited by Iran’s Fars news agency, said the United States would regret the latest attacks.
The scale of the renewed hostilities remained uncertain. The conflict had increasingly shifted towards sanctions, blockades and economic pressure before the latest military exchanges. US forces attacked Iran’s Larak Island on August 30, after which Iran launched missiles at two US air bases in Jordan.
Washington is also preparing additional economic measures. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said new bank sanctions against Iran were likely to be announced during the current and following week. He also said the US was considering measures targeting airline leasing companies and other entities doing business with the IRGC, while warning that countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran could face sanctions.
The latest escalation raises the risk of further disruption to tanker movements through one of the world’s principal oil supply routes. PVM analyst John Evans said the renewed exchanges supported expectations that the conflict could continue even if it did not become a permanent war.