- September 2, 2026
- Posted by: Tresmark
- Category:
US says attacks were launched in response to alleged threats against shipping near the Strait of Hormuz; Iran retaliates with missiles and drones
Fresh military strikes shook southern Iran on Tuesday night, hours after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signalled Tehran’s willingness to reciprocate if Washington returned to commitments made under a June agreement aimed at ending hostilities.
The United States said its forces launched attacks against targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), citing what it described as recent attempted attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and threats against American personnel in the region.
According to reports from Iranian media, explosions were heard in several locations, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and the southern port city of Chabahar. Iranian authorities also reported casualties after a residential property in Hormozgan province was struck during a wedding gathering.
A local official said at least two people were killed and several others injured in the incident.
US President Donald Trump defended the latest military action, saying it was a response to what Washington described as Iranian attempts to deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz and missile attacks targeting a US military installation in Jordan. Trump warned that Tehran could face more extensive strikes if it launched further retaliatory attacks.
Iran, however, responded strongly to the latest escalation. Iranian media reported that Tehran launched missiles and drones targeting US interests and military facilities across the region. Authorities in Jordan activated warning sirens in several areas following reports of Iranian attacks.
Pezeshkian offers diplomatic opening
Before the latest exchange of strikes, President Pezeshkian had called for a return to diplomacy, saying Iran was prepared to immediately honour its commitments if the United States returned to the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding reached in June.
Speaking at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Pezeshkian said Tehran remained willing to reciprocate if Washington fulfilled its obligations under the agreement.
The June understanding had been intended to halt fighting and create space for broader negotiations. However, key disputes remained unresolved, and a proposed 60-day negotiation period ended without a comprehensive agreement.
Despite Pezeshkian’s conciliatory remarks, other Iranian officials maintained a tougher stance.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that if Tehran was prevented from exporting oil through the Persian Gulf, other countries would also face difficulties using the strategic waterway.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei accused Washington of making excessive demands and attempting to dictate terms during negotiations. He said Iran would use both diplomatic and military means to defend its interests.
Risk of wider escalation
The latest confrontation marks a sharp escalation in a conflict that had increasingly shifted towards economic pressure, sanctions and restrictions on maritime trade.
Earlier clashes included US strikes on Iran’s Larak Island and subsequent Iranian missile attacks targeting US military bases in Jordan.
While officials on both sides have indicated that recent exchanges do not necessarily signal a return to full-scale war, renewed military action has raised concerns that the conflict could rapidly expand.
With both Washington and Tehran pledging to respond to further attacks, tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz one of the world's most strategically important energy corridors remain a major source of concern for global markets and regional stability.
