Washington, Sep 2026 : The United States launched fresh strikes against targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marking another sharp escalation in hostilities between Washington and Tehran and raising concerns over the security of commercial shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump warned Iran against retaliating for the latest attacks, saying any response would trigger an even more forceful US military action. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump described the strikes near the Strait of Hormuz as “large and powerful” and said Iran would face a much harsher response if it retaliated.
Trump warned that the latest operation was not the largest attack Washington had prepared and suggested that an even more extensive military action could follow. He said that, if another round of fighting took place, “there will be very little left” of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Speaking separately in a phone interview with Fox News, Trump claimed that US forces had destroyed a significant number of radar systems belonging to Iran's military network. He said some of the systems had been rebuilt by Tehran after earlier attacks but were targeted again by US forces.
“This is a very big hit today,” Trump said, warning that another escalation could result in devastating consequences for Iran. He also said the US Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier was fully prepared for further military operations, declaring that American forces were “loaded up.”
According to Trump, US allies in the Gulf region were informed ahead of the latest strikes, suggesting that Washington had coordinated the operation with regional partners amid heightened tensions.
The latest attacks were announced by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which said US forces carried out strikes against IRGC targets in Iran at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, or 1600 GMT. CENTCOM said the operation followed recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks targeting US military personnel deployed in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial share of global oil shipments passes, has become a major flashpoint amid the escalating confrontation. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the waterway could have significant consequences for international energy markets.
Explosions were reported on Tuesday in the Iranian port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as on Qeshm Island, according to reports reaching Washington.
Iranian state-linked and semi-official media also reported military activity following the US strikes. Tasnim news agency, citing sources, reported that Iranian forces launched missiles towards US bases located in regional countries on Tuesday evening.
The IRGC separately warned that the United States would “regret its new attacks,” according to Iran's Fars news agency, signalling that Tehran could respond militarily to the latest US operation.
Tensions had already intensified after two crude oil tankers were struck by unidentified projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening. Maritime risk organisation Marisks, based in Greece, reported the incidents on Tuesday.
The latest developments represent a dangerous escalation in the confrontation between the two countries, with military actions increasingly intersecting with the security of international commercial shipping. With Washington warning of further strikes and Tehran threatening retaliation, the Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of growing regional and global concern.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
