U.S. retaliates against IRGC in Iran after Strait of Hormuz attacks

Investing.com - Brent crude traded above $93 a barrel on Tuesday as U.S. Central Command announced it began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran at noon ET on September 1, intensifying a conflict that has already choked one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints.

CENTCOM said on X that the strikes follow recent IRGC attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members in the region. CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins framed the action in terms of freedom of navigation: "Last week, CENTCOM completed cleaning sea mines from the strait’s international shipping routes. We simply will not allow Iran to emplace more mines."

Tuesday’s announcement is the second escalatory step inside five days. U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on August 30, the first known American strikes on Iran since late July, after IRGC forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strait, according to Reuters. Iran responded the following day by launching ballistic missiles and drones at the King Hussein and Muwaffaq Salti air bases in Jordan; Jordan said it intercepted eight missiles, and U.S. officials reported most incoming fire was neutralized with no significant impact, per reporting from Kurdistan 24.

President Trump, speaking on Fox News after Iran’s missile strike on the Jordanian bases, left little ambiguity about Washington’s posture: "We’re going to hit them hard. There will be a response."

Axios reported, citing three U.S. officials, that CENTCOM had developed a "mow the lawn" plan for periodic limited strikes aimed at degrading Iranian radar, air defense, and anti-ship missile capabilities along the strait. Defense Secretary Hegseth backed the plan, though Axios noted it had not been formally approved by Trump ahead of the weekend escalation.

Whether Tuesday’s broader strikes represent adoption of that doctrine or a standalone response is not yet clear.

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