U.S. carried out Strikes on Iranian Launchers Near Strait of Hormuz as Tehran Vows ‘Heavy Costs’

U.S. forces carried out a limited and precise strike against two Iranian launchers on the island of Larak in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were observed preparing to launch rockets carrying naval mines toward the strategic waterway, a senior U.S. official said.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the operation, saying American forces had acted against Iranian mine-laying units that posed an immediate threat to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“U.S. military forces took limited and precise action against IRGC mine-laying forces that posed an immediate threat in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said. “Iran created the threat, and the U.S. military eliminated it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping and the free flow of global commerce.”

The strike represents the first known U.S. attack inside Iran in approximately a month and comes after President Donald Trump warned that Washington would take military action to prevent Iran from redeploying naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran threatens retaliation

Iranian state-linked media reported that missiles were subsequently launched toward U.S. military vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Explosions were also reported in Jordan following the Iranian launches. The IRGC later claimed responsibility for attacks targeting U.S. bases in Jordan.

Iranian news agency Tasnim, citing preliminary reports, said two people were killed in the U.S. strike. Later in the evening, Iranian state news agency Fars reported that an explosion had been heard on Larak Island.

The IRGC described the American operation as an “aggressive” attack and said that several fighters and civilians had been killed or wounded.

“The American-Israeli enemy, out of desperation to resolve its internal problems, once again attempted to revive its negative role and influence public opinion,” the IRGC said in a statement. “This action will be met with punishment, and those responsible will pay the price.”

An IRGC spokesman writing on X described the strike as a “strategic and fatal mistake” by the Trump administration during what he called an economic war.

He warned that the operation would alter the balance of power and lead to “heavy costs.”

“The enemy will pay the consequences of this miscalculation in both spheres — economic and military,” he said.

The Strait of Hormuz becomes the flashpoint

The confrontation comes only days after CENTCOM said it had completed the clearance of naval mines from international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. forces have continued to closely monitor the area and remain prepared to protect the free movement of commercial shipping through the strategically vital waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy corridors, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Any sustained disruption to shipping through the strait could have immediate consequences for global energy markets, insurance costs and international trade.

Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States would not allow Iran to reestablish a mining threat in the waterway.

In an exclusive interview with N12 last week, President Trump’s interview with N12 he said that “this business is open,” while describing Iran's response to previous U.S. military action as “very moderate.”

“They don't want us to go back and attack them. That's the whole story. Everything else doesn't matter,” Trump said.

U.S. officials have argued that American military operations have succeeded in reversing the trend in the Strait of Hormuz. They contend that the latest strike could prove to be a pivotal moment in the conflict — potentially easing pressure on the global economy while strengthening Washington's position in negotiations with Tehran.

Trump declares Strait of Hormuz ‘new territory’

Earlier this month, following the expiration of 60 days established under a memorandum of understanding, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Strait of Hormuz was “new territory” for the United States.

The statement triggered growing concern in Tehran, where Iranian officials began signaling that their patience with Washington was running out.

Sunday's strike now raises the risk of a broader escalation.

The immediate question is whether Iran's reported retaliation will remain limited or develop into a sustained campaign against U.S. forces, commercial shipping or regional infrastructure.

For Washington, the stated objective remains clear: preventing Iran from using naval mines to threaten one of the world's most critical maritime trade routes.

For Tehran, however, the American strike on Iranian territory represents a direct challenge to its sovereignty and military capabilities — potentially turning the Strait of Hormuz into the central military and economic battleground of the next phase of the conflict.