President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that U.S. forces are conducting “large and powerful” strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating a cycle of retaliation between Washington and Tehran.
In a Truth Social post at approximately 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, Trump wrote, “The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz.” The strikes follow a weekend U.S. military operation that targeted Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island, which prompted Iran to launch missiles at American troops in Jordan on Monday, according to reports.
Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the latest action earlier Tuesday, saying U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran at 12 p.m. ET. The command said the strikes were in response to recent IRGC attempts to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American service members deployed to the region.
Trump framed the strikes as retaliation for Iranian provocations, including an attempt to lay sea mines in the strait. He said the mines had been “completely removed or detonated” and noted that Iran fired eight missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan, all of which were successfully intercepted.
Escalating Conflict
The president warned that further Iranian retaliation would bring even harsher consequences. “If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,” he said, adding that a larger strike was “waiting in the wings.” He concluded, “When it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The strikes come after a deadly summer incident in which an Iranian attack in Jordan killed three American service members: Army Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, and Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad. The Biden administration had previously escalated U.S. military action against Iranian proxies in the region, but Trump’s return to the White House has brought a more aggressive posture toward Tehran.
Trump also referenced reports that the Iranian regime had killed 100,000 of its own citizens during protests against domestic tyranny, and he has repeatedly hinted at potentially eliminating Iran’s leadership.
No Immediate End in Sight
Observers note that the U.S.-Iranian conflict has become a cycle of tit-for-tat strikes, with neither side achieving a decisive outcome. Some analysts question whether the Trump administration will take even more direct action against Iranian leadership before the midterm elections, a move that could dramatically reshape the region’s security situation.
For now, the Pentagon and CENTCOM have not provided details on the scope of Tuesday’s strikes, but Trump’s characterization of them as “large and powerful” suggests a significant military operation. The situation remains fluid, and further Iranian retaliation is possible.
Source: pjmedia.com — https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/09/01/trump-confirms-large-and-powerful-strikes-on-hormuz-strait-n4956785
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