The Iran-US war has entered a new phase of direct confrontation following the US attack on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. This phase has coincided with an escalation in military confrontations across the region, further turning the Strait of Hormuz into the main focal point of the crisis while also intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent the war from spreading.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Public Relations Department has announced that the US and Israeli regime’s attack on Larak Island resulted in the martyrdom and injury of a number of Iranian military personnel and civilians. A US official also confirmed the attack on Larak in an interview with Al Jazeera.
In response to the attack, the IRGC announced the launch of “Punishing the Aggressor” operation, saying ballistic missiles targeted technical and maintenance infrastructure and the locations of US fighter jets at the King Hussein and Azraq air bases in Jordan. At the same time, the Islamic Republic of Iran Army said Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, where US forces and helicopters are stationed, was targeted with dozens of loitering attack drones.
The IRGC also reported the downing of a US MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the IRGC Navy said a non-compliant supertanker attempting to pass through an illegal route south of the Strait of Hormuz caught fire and was immobilized after striking two naval mines.
The continuation of these developments has placed the Strait of Hormuz more firmly at the center of the war. Reuters reported that the number of commercial cargo vessels whose passage through the Strait of Hormuz can be tracked had fallen to around five per day toward the end of the week. Reza Nasri, an international affairs expert, also stressed, citing recent developments, that Hormuz has still not even come close to returning to normal.
By contrast, Donald Trump has claimed that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz and will have almost complete control over the waterway after winning the war. He has also described Iranians as “tough people” and said he was surprised by Iran’s response to US attacks. Trump has meanwhile claimed that US intervention was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Inside the United States, there are also signs of growing divisions over whether the war should continue. Tucker Carlson and Joe Kent, two figures close to the “America First” movement, have warned against continuing military operations and about the possibility of a nuclear option entering the war. Following the attack on Larak, Kent called for US forces to leave the region and for Washington to focus on economic pressure and diplomacy.
At the regional level, consultations to contain the crisis are continuing. Iraq’s foreign minister and Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad have discussed the latest developments in the talks and ways to reduce tensions. At the same time, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Türkiye have held consultations in Istanbul, while military officials from the three countries are also gathering for the first meeting of the coordination committee under their joint defense pact.
In Europe, pressure to end the war is also mounting. Germany’s chancellor, citing the economic impact of $100-a-barrel oil on the country’s economy, has said efforts should be made to help bring the US war against Iran to an end.
Nevertheless, statements and developments on the ground indicate that the crisis remains on an escalating trajectory. Washington continues to emphasize military and economic pressure, while Tehran has declared that every act of aggression will be met with a response. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains the most important point connecting the military battlefield, energy security and the global economy in this war.
NOURNEWS