Iran Warns Ships Over Strait of Hormuz as It Targets US Bases in UAE and Jordan

World 11:52 AM - 2026-08-31

The war between US and Iran.

On Monday morning, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reported that an oil tanker had caught fire after striking two sea mines while travelling along what it described as an “illegal route” south of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Iran said it had launched strikes against US-linked military positions in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, following US strikes on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz the previous evening.

The IRGC Navy warned that vessels breaching what it described as security regulations in the strait could face the same fate as the damaged tanker, stressing that compliance with its navigation directives was “mandatory”. It also cautioned shipping companies against what it called “provocations by the US military”.

Strikes on US Positions in the UAE and Jordan

The Iranian military said it had deployed dozens of drones towards US forces and helicopter positions at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, describing the action as retaliation for what it called “enemy aggression” against Larak Island.

The IRGC also claimed that its forces had targeted King Hussein and Al Azraq air bases in Jordan, saying the attacks were carried out “in response to American-Zionist aggression against Larak Island”. The claims regarding damage to infrastructure and fighter jet positions have not been independently verified.

Iranian state media reported that the IRGC used Khaibar Shekan solid-fuel ballistic missiles, alongside Qadr and Emad liquid-fuel missiles and drones, during the operation.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the US strike on Larak Island violated Iranian national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It described the attacks against US-linked positions in Jordan as “crushing defensive strikes”, saying the bases had been used as launch points for American military operations.

Tehran maintained that “the aggressive actions of the United States and the Zionist entity” posed the main threat to maritime security in the region. It warned of a “firm and appropriate” response to any further military action and held Washington and its allies responsible for the consequences of what it described as American aggression and economic blockades.

Iranian state television reported that missiles had been launched from multiple locations across the country, while the IRGC said that “any attack against us will be met with a more devastating response”. The IRGC Navy also said it had shot down an American MQ-9 drone over the Strait of Hormuz early on Monday. The claim could not immediately be independently verified.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, commenting on the escalation, warned that regional instability harms all countries and creates widespread challenges. He said, “We do not seek war, but we will not stand idly by in the face of any aggression, and we will respond decisively to the aggressors.”

Interceptions and US Response

Citing a US source, Fox News reported that Iran had launched strikes against US forces in Jordan following the American strikes on Larak Island. A correspondent for the channel said on X, formerly Twitter, that damage appeared limited, with most of the incoming missiles reportedly intercepted over Jordanian airspace.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X that its forces had carried out limited, targeted strikes against IRGC mine-laying forces that it said posed an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran created this threat, and the US military removed it to protect civilian mariners, commercial shipping, and the freedom of global commerce,” CENTCOM said. It rejected the IRGC’s description of the operation as an “act of aggression”, calling the characterisation “completely false”.

A spokesperson for the Jordanian Armed Forces said the country’s air-defence systems had intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered Jordanian airspace early on Monday before they could threaten lives or property. The military said the interceptions were carried out in accordance with rules of engagement aimed at protecting national sovereignty, adding that its units remained on high alert.

US Navy spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins told AFP that American forces had struck two Iranian missile launchers on Larak Island after observing IRGC personnel preparing to deploy missiles carrying naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz.

The IRGC later reported casualties from the US strike on Larak Island, saying military personnel and civilians had been killed and injured. It vowed retaliation, declaring: “This aggression will result in the punishment of the aggressor.”

The latest escalation follows remarks by US President Donald Trump last week that mines had been cleared from waters off Larak Island. Iran had previously warned that any vessel or craft attempting to lay additional mines would be targeted.

The wider conflict, which began on 28 February and is now in its seventh month, had entered a period of relative calm in recent weeks. Tensions have nevertheless remained high, with Washington threatening severe sanctions against countries supporting Tehran following the initial US-Israeli military action and subsequent Iranian retaliatory strikes across the region.


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