Continuously Control the Strait, Counter the U.S. Surprise Attack, Iran Strikes Multiple U.S. Military Targets in the Region

[Global Times Special Correspondent in Iran, Bao Xiaolong; Global Times Special Correspondent in Saudi Arabia, Ren Haoyu] On the evening of August 30, the U.S. military suddenly attacked a rocket launch facility on Iran's Larak Island, marking the first military strike against an Iranian target by U.S. forces in a month. Larak Island controls the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically critical location, and the U.S. attack resulted in casualties among Iranian soldiers and civilians. The Iranian military stated that in response, Iran launched missiles on August 31 targeting U.S. military positions in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. "We do not seek war; this is the message we convey to the world. But in the face of any aggression, we will never remain indifferent and will respond resolutely to the aggressors," said Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on August 31 while attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan. Why did the U.S. choose this moment to strike Iran? According to analysis from CNBC, the White House had previously announced a shift in its policy towards Iran, focusing on economic sanctions, but the sudden escalation indicates that the U.S. has lost patience with the slow progress of sanctions. U.S. President Trump stated on August 31 that he would "hit Iran hard."

"Stop-and-go, talking while fighting"

Regarding the latest attack, according to U.S. claims, personnel from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were preparing to use the rocket launch facility on Larak Island to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz, posing an "imminent threat" to navigation safety in the strait, prompting the U.S. to take "limited precision" action against Iran's mine-laying forces. Iranian media reported that the attack resulted in 2 deaths and multiple injuries.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the U.S. attack, stating that the U.S. and its accomplices would bear full responsibility for the consequences of their aggression against Iran. Iran stated that the attack resulted in casualties among "many brave defenders of the homeland and dear compatriots," violating Iran's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. In response, Iranian armed forces conducted "defensive and deterrent strikes" against U.S. military bases in Jordan, which were used to launch and support U.S. military actions against Iran.

According to CNBC, Iran responded within hours by launching 8 missiles at the King Hussein Air Base and the Azraq Air Base in Jordan. The Jordanian government stated that its air defense forces intercepted all 8 missiles, with no casualties reported.

On August 31, the Iranian military also announced that it had deployed dozens of suicide drones early that morning to strike U.S. personnel and helicopters at the Minhad Air Base in the UAE. However, the UAE Ministry of Defense denied that the base was attacked, stating that media reports were inaccurate.

The Strait of Hormuz remains unsettled. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on August 31 that its air defense forces used missiles to hit a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Strait of Hormuz, which subsequently crashed into the Persian Gulf. Additionally, the naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard announced that a supertanker attempted to pass through the southern Strait of Hormuz via an "illegal route," triggering a severe fire after hitting a mine and halting navigation. Iran warned that any vessel must comply with the navigation regulations announced by Iran for the Strait of Hormuz, and violators may face similar consequences. However, later that day, the U.S. military denied that a supertanker had hit a mine in the Strait of Hormuz.

According to observations from Global Times special correspondents in Iran, most Iranians believe that this war is not over, and neither the U.S. nor Iran will make concessions on the issue of control over the Strait of Hormuz, so the stop-and-go, talking while fighting approach is not surprising to the public. Iranians generally lack trust in the U.S., believing that the U.S. will not reach a peace agreement with Iran, and even if one is reached, it will not be honored.

Iranian President attends SCO summit

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Kyrgyzstan on August 31 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Before his departure, he stated that Iran does not seek war, but will respond decisively to aggression. Turmoil does not serve the interests of any country in the region, so cooperation is necessary to jointly maintain regional security, economy, and development.

According to Iran's Tasnim News Agency, Raisi emphasized the importance of this SCO summit. He stated that while some international organizations attempt to create a "single voice environment" in the world, the SCO summit represents a diverse and independent voice on the global stage.

The U.S. and Iran reached a ceasefire memorandum in June, but the peaceful situation did not last long. UAE President's diplomatic advisor Gargash stated on August 31 that the memorandum "failed to establish a practical and acceptable roadmap," and the region needs realistic and sustainable political solutions that must "go beyond" the memorandum, starting with easing tensions and restoring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Another issue worth noting is: is this attack the beginning of a renewed U.S. military action against Iran? Al Jazeera emphasized that this incident should not be characterized as the start of a more prolonged bombing campaign. Iran's retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases are a form of reciprocal response, and there are currently no signs indicating that this is part of a larger escalation. Whether the situation can be controlled in the future largely depends on the U.S.'s subsequent choices.

"This war has always focused more on tactics than strategy," said maritime security expert Ian Ralby, as quoted by CNBC. The new military actions indicate that U.S. economic sanctions may not be hitting the Iranian leadership quickly enough to meet U.S. expectations. This attack by the U.S. is likely aimed at breaking the deadlock rather than indicating a policy shift.

Hark Island destroyed? Iran denies

After the recent round of conflict between the U.S. and Iran, Trump posted an AI-generated video on social media showing explosions at Iran's Hark Island oil facilities, captioning it "Hark Island is being blown to pieces." Hark Island is an important oil export hub for Iran, and since the outbreak of U.S.-Iran conflict in late February, whether the U.S. military intends to destroy or even land on the island has been a hot topic of public discussion.

There is currently no evidence to suggest that Hark Island has been attacked by the U.S. recently. CNBC reported that experts believe Trump's threats regarding Hark Island are likely just verbal. Since the outbreak of the war, Hark Island has been subjected to dozens of attacks by U.S. forces, yet its oil infrastructure has remained intact.

According to Iran's Nour News Agency on August 31, a representative from the National Iranian Oil Company stated that Trump's claims about Hark Island being destroyed are "ridiculous," and that the situation on the island is calm and normal, with reconstruction of oil facilities and other work not interrupted.

European website Modern Diplomacy believes that Trump's video about Hark Island highlights the increasing importance of information warfare in the U.S.-Iran conflict. This raises questions about whether the U.S. is signaling an intention to conduct actual military operations. If an attack were to occur, it could signify a significant escalation in the situation.