On Sunday, U.S. forces launched an attack on rocket launchers belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) located on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This marks the first military operation by the United States in this region in about a month.
According to U.S. officials cited by Reuters and Euronews, the strike was prompted by the detection of IRGC personnel preparing to launch rocket-propelled mines toward international shipping lanes in the strait. Two launchers on the island were destroyed by U.S. forces.
The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported at least two fatalities and two injuries resulting from the strike. The IRGC acknowledged casualties, without specifying numbers, and vowed retaliation, labeling the operation as an act by the "American-Zionist enemy."
The Immediate Context and Rising Tensions
This event is particularly significant given the recent developments: just three days prior, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), declared that Iranian sea mines had been cleared from the strait's shipping routes, calling it a "major milestone" and asserting that the channels were "open and operational." The discovery of new Iranian preparations to deploy mines contradicts this claim and reignites tensions.
End of a Brief Calm Following a Failed Truce
Sunday's attack concludes a brief period of relative calm following the collapse of a 60-day truce signed between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland from June 17 to 19, 2026. This agreement included commitments to reopen the strait and engage in nuclear negotiations.
The truce quickly disintegrated. President Donald Trump declared it "over" on July 8 at a NATO meeting in Ankara, and Iran formally suspended the agreement, accusing the U.S. of killing 50 people over three weeks. The 60-day memorandum expired on August 17 without reaching a definitive settlement, as reported by El País under the headline "The End of the Conflict Moves Away."
Background of the Ongoing Conflict
The conflict between the two powers began in the spring of 2026 with initial U.S. bombings on April 7. Since then, the U.S. has launched multiple waves of attacks on Iranian military targets, striking over 300 in less than a week during July, while Iran retaliated with drones and ballistic missiles against U.S. bases in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil is transported, has been the strategic epicenter of the confrontation. Iran had deployed around 8,000 naval mines in its waters; by May, CENTCOM reported having destroyed more than 90% of them.
Iran also launched ballistic missile attacks against U.S. bases in the region during the conflict, and in August threatened to expand its actions to targets in Europe if U.S. military pressure persisted. With the IRGC's promise of retaliation following Sunday's attack, the risk of a renewed escalation in one of the world's most strategic maritime passages is once again looming.
Key Questions About the U.S.-Iran Conflict in the Strait of Hormuz
What triggered the U.S. military action in the Strait of Hormuz?
The U.S. military action was triggered by the detection of IRGC forces preparing to launch rocket-propelled mines into international shipping lanes in the strait.
How did the recent truce between the U.S. and Iran collapse?
The truce collapsed when President Donald Trump declared it over during a NATO meeting, and Iran suspended the agreement after accusing the U.S. of causing multiple fatalities.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?
The Strait of Hormuz is strategically important because it is a critical passage through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil is transported.