Trump says US launches ‘large and powerful’ strikes on Iranian targets near Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States was carrying out strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, warning Iran of a stronger military response if it retaliates.

“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan. If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) separately said US forces had launched strikes on targets belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).


“Today at 12 p.m. ET, U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region,” CENTCOM said in a post.

CENTCOM said the strikes began at 12 p.m. ET (9:30 p.m. IST) and targeted IRGC positions in Iran.

Trump said the strikes were in response to what he described as an Iranian attempt to place sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and the launch of eight missiles at a US military base in Jordan.

The latest strikes mark a fresh escalation in US-Iran hostilities around the strategically important waterway. Reuters reported that US forces had launched strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, citing US officials.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil shipments, making the latest military escalation particularly significant for energy markets and international shipping.