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Larak Island Strike
US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Iran's Larak Island, the first known American strikes on Iran since late July, after US Central Command said it observed IRGC forces preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
“Jordan's army said shortly after the IRGC statement that it had intercepted eight missiles.”
BBC reported that Jordan's army said it intercepted eight missiles that entered the kingdom's airspace at dawn, quoting the army's statement carried by the state Petra News Agency.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the attack killed and wounded several fighters and civilians and vowed “response and punishment,” while the BBC said the IRGC later launched an attack on US military targets in Jordan, according to Iranian state media.
The CNBC report said oil rose after the strike, with Brent crude for November delivery gaining 1.54% at $89.46 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate futures for October advancing 1.44% at $84.60 per barrel.
Jordan Intercepts and Retaliation
CNN said Iran retaliated against US forces on Sunday after the US military struck Iranian rocket launchers, and it reported that Iranian missiles fired into Jordan were intercepted with no impacts reported so far.
CNN also reported that Jordan’s armed forces said Monday that air defense systems intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered the kingdom’s airspace, and that the projectiles were neutralized before they could pose any threat to civilians or property.
In a statement carried by state broadcaster IRIB, CNN said the IRGC launched missile and drone strikes against two US air bases in Jordan in response to the US attack on Larak Island.
The BBC said Hossein Mohebbi, the IRGC's spokesman, called the attack a "strategic and fatal mistake by the Trump regime" and said that the "enemy will pay the consequences of this miscalculation in both the economic and military fields".
Economic Pressure and Stakes
The ABC News report said the war has crossed its six-month mark and that the US Treasury Department is likely to unveil weekly new secondary sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran, with an initial focus on banks.
“The US Treasury Department is likely to unveil weekly new secondary sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran”
ABC quoted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying, "You're going to see a lot more of these every week," and said the US was telling banks it was "not OK to have Iranian money and to aid the regime."
RFE/RL said US forces struck the launchers after the IRGC was observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines, and it quoted a US official saying, "US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway."
RFE/RL also quoted policy director Jason Brodsky saying, "I think today’s strike is a signal from the US that it is not going to allow Iran to reverse the American gains in recent weeks over ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," framing the immediate stakes for shipping through Hormuz.