STRAIT OF HORMUZ — The United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. An American official said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked two US military airbases with ballistic missiles in Jordan. Jordan’s army intercepted eight missiles without stating their origin. Iran also targeted US military personnel at an airbase in the United Arab Emirates.

A supertanker hit two naval mines and caught fire in the southern Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the tanker was attempting to pass through the waterway illegally. The group did not identify the vessel or provide information about its crew.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations in a written message on August 31, 2026. A US official said Scott Bessent will step up efforts to isolate Iran economically during the G20 meetings.

Timeline

On February 11, 2026, the Executive Office of the President published a presidential document titled Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Iran. On March 2, 2026, the Treasury Department published a proposed rule titled Proposal of Special Measure Regarding MBaer Merchant Bank AG as a Financial Institution Operating Outside of the United States of Primary Money Laundering Concern.

On August 30, 2026, the United States carried out airstrikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. On August 31, 2026, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei urged rulers of Muslim nations to "know your real enemy, understand its plans and confront it".

Later that day, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei called the US and Israel enemies of all Islamic nations in a written message. On August 31, 2026, a supertanker hit two naval mines and caught fire in the southern Strait of Hormuz.

What's New

The Executive Office of the President published a presidential document titled Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of Iran on February 11, 2026. The Treasury Department published a proposed rule titled Proposal of Special Measure Regarding MBaer Merchant Bank AG as a Financial Institution Operating Outside of the United States of Primary Money Laundering Concern on March 2, 2026.

The war has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which before the conflict used to see a transit of about a fifth of the world’s oil barrels consumed. Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei has served as the third supreme leader of Iran since 2026.

Why It Matters

The conflict involves critical energy infrastructure, as the Strait of Hormuz previously handled about a fifth of global oil consumption. The blockade disrupts this transit route following the exchange of military strikes between the United States and Iran.

Regional tensions have escalated with attacks on US bases in Jordan and the UAE, alongside diplomatic moves such as economic isolation efforts discussed for the G20 meetings. The involvement of multiple state actors and the targeting of commercial shipping indicate a broadening scope of hostilities.