Iran has launched an attack on a US base in revenge for American strikes, marking the first missile exchanges since July and sparking fears of an escalation in the region. Tehran claimed the US strikes killed and injured several soldiers and civilians and vowed a “response and punishment” shortly before the attack on the US base in Jordan.
Missiles intercepted by Jordan
Eight of Tehran’s ballistic missiles were shot down by Jordan after the US military struck rocket launchers on Iran’s Larak Island. In a statement, the Jordanian military said its air defence systems intercepted missiles that penetrated its airspace on Monday. The statement noted that the missiles were destroyed before they “posed any threat to citizens or property.”
The latest serious flare-up has sparked major fears the conflict could explode again and draw the wider Middle East region into a major war. It followed a weekend of rising tension as Iran claimed it had reached an agreement with Oman over the future of the Strait of Hormuz. The island of Larak in the Strait of Hormuz is close to a key port called Bandar Abbas and overlooks shipping lanes at the mouth of the Gulf.
US strikes on Iranian launchers
A Memorandum of Understanding imposing a cessation of hostilities between the US and Iran expired in mid-August, escalating the possibility of war returning. On Sunday, Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said: “Earlier today U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Last week, CENTCOM completed clearing sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes. U.S. forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway.”
US President Donald Trump followed up late on Sunday with an Artificial Intelligence film on social media he claimed was an attack on an Iranian port hub. He posted the words: “Kharg island being blown to smithereens. President DJT.”
Sanctions and impact on shipping
The latest exchange of fire happened as US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said new sanctions were likely to be imposed on Tehran. He said: "We're starting with the banks, and we're telling the banks it's not okay to have Iranian money and to aid the regime."
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global shipping. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passed through before the war began. Since the conflict started in February, the strait has effectively been closed, causing wild fluctuations in the price of oil on world markets.
Iran is currently demanding that tanker traffic pass by Larak Island for checks and reportedly forcing vessels to pay £1.5m to cross. Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the attack on Larak was carried out by drones. The US and Israel launched major strikes on Iran on 28 February, with Iran responding by attacking Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf.
