U.S. Forces Hit Iranian Rocket Sites Near Strait of Hormuz

American military personnel targeted two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, the first such strike in over a month, after observing Revolutionary Guard units preparing to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. The action follows a U.S. Central Command operation that cleared mines from international shipping lanes in the strait, which had been disrupted by Iranian restrictions. The strikes come amid ongoing efforts to restore safe passage for commercial vessels, with regional talks underway to establish a temporary corridor.

Sunday’s strike on Larak Island targeted launchers that U.S. officials said were being readied to fire sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway vital to global oil shipments. Centcom had just finished clearing mines from international transit lanes, a mission its commander described as dangerous but successful. The action follows weeks of Iranian restrictions that disrupted shipping and contributed to rising U.S. gas prices, which climbed from $2.98 to roughly $4.07 per gallon since the conflict began.

The strike is the first U.S. attack on Iran since late July, when Centcom hit targets after an IRGC attack on a U.S. base in Jordan. Meanwhile, Iranian and Omani officials are discussing a temporary commercial corridor, referencing the expired Islamabad Memorandum. The Trump administration also expanded sanctions on nearly 60 entities tied to Iran’s nuclear, missile, cyber, and oil networks, with Treasury Secretary Bessent warning of swift consequences for noncompliant countries.