US Launches First Air Strikes in Iran in a Month Targeting Larak Island

United States forces have carried out fresh military strikes on the Iranian island of Larak in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such attacks in a month and resulting in undisclosed casualties according to Iranian state authorities.

The strikes occurred on Sunday and targeted Iranian rocket launchers observed by the United States military, as reported by the U.S. Central Command, known as CENTCOM. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM, stated in a communication shared with Agence France-Presse that Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel were spotted preparing to fire rockets laden with marine mines. The operation follows a period of reduced military intensity in the region following an earlier ceasefire and subsequent diplomatic breakdown.

Military Operations in the Strait of Hormuz

According to CENTCOM, the latest engagement took place directly on Larak Island, where American forces struck two active launch platforms. The strikes brought an immediate reaction from Tehran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issuing a statement confirming that the military actions caused fatalities and injuries among their ranks. The Revolutionary Guard vowed that retaliation would follow the U.S. intervention.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping lane. Before the outbreak of the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of the world’s petroleum transit passed through the narrow waterway. Tehran has heavily restricted passage through the route, engaging in sporadic attacks against commercial vessels attempting to navigate the strait, while U.S. forces have enforced a blockade against Iranian ports. CENTCOM announced last week that it had completed demining operations along international shipping lanes within the waterway, maintaining a close operational watch to secure commercial traffic.

Diplomatic Breakdown and Economic Sanctions

Sunday’s military action highlights the fragility of the regional situation following months of diplomatic friction. Conflict initially broke out on February 28, driven by joint air operations conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran, which subsequently retaliated by targeting Washington’s allies in the Gulf region. Although a temporary ceasefire in April halted nearly 40 days of intense bombardment, and a preliminary protocol for a permanent settlement was reached in June, the diplomatic arrangement collapsed in July during renewed fighting, leaving negotiations completely stalled. Alongside direct military measures, Washington has increasingly leaned into economic pressure against Tehran. Scott Bessent, the U.S. The Treasury Department also penalized 60 individuals, corporate entities, and vessels accused of assisting Iran in generating petroleum revenue, procuring weaponry, and executing digital warfare operations. Major economic partners have already responded to the shifting financial restrictions. China, a principal commercial collaborator for Tehran, declared that it would firmly defend its domestic interests and its ongoing cooperation with Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian acknowledged that the nation continues to navigate severe economic headwinds, though Tehran maintains that financial pressure will fail to force concessions or restore pre-war conditions in the Strait of Hormuz—an outcome that Washington and regional governments deem unacceptable.