US Strikes Larak Island Launchers to Block New Hormuz Mines

Global oil markets face renewed disruption after U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on August 30, 2026. The action marked the first publicly acknowledged U.S. strike inside Iran in nearly a month and targeted equipment that Central Command said was preparing to deploy sea mines into international shipping lanes.

Central Command described the strike as limited and precise, aimed at neutralizing an imminent threat to commercial traffic. Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins stated that Iranian forces were preparing to fire rockets dispersing sea mines into the strait. President Trump had warned the previous week that any vessel placing new mines would be destroyed. CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper later confirmed that U.S. forces had already cleared earlier Iranian-laid mines from the Traffic Separation Scheme lanes using divers, SEALs, and air assets from multiple services.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that the Larak strike killed two people and wounded two others. Iranian officials described the U.S. action as a violation of sovereignty and said they responded with missile and drone strikes on U.S. positions in Jordan and at the Al Menhad airbase in the UAE. Jordan’s army stated it intercepted eight Iranian missiles that entered its airspace. The UAE Ministry of Defence said it intercepted one drone over its territorial waters, rejected claims that Al Menhad was struck, and condemned the reported aggression.

Oil flows through the strait remained far below pre-conflict levels of more than 20 million barrels per day, with recent tracking showing roughly 5 million barrels daily. The Joint Maritime Information Center maintained a “SEVERE” threat level for the waterway. Tanker incidents near Oman on August 24 and 25 were reported by UKMTO, though no attribution was made. Iran has continued to assert that the strait remains closed to vessels without its permission and has demanded checks and fees for transit.

The Trump administration has paired the naval blockade with new sanctions targeting institutions doing business with Iran. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated additional measures would be announced weekly. High-level delegations from Oman, Pakistan, and Qatar visited Tehran in recent days seeking to restart negotiations, but the latest exchange has complicated those efforts.