US strikes on Larak Island trigger Iran retaliation against Jordan and UAE bases

Donald Trump posted a brief message on social media Sunday claiming Iran’s energy hub Kharg Island was being "blown to smithereens". The post, accompanied by an AI‑generated video, came hours after the US military launched its first known strikes since late July, hitting two launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported two deaths and several injuries on the island.

Iran’s counter‑attacks

Within hours Tehran announced it had struck US‑linked facilities in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The Iranian foreign ministry said drones hit the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, a site that hosts US personnel, and that US bases in Jordan used to support the Larak raid were also targeted. The UAE defence ministry rejected the claim, calling reports of a missile attack "baseless" and saying it had only intercepted an Iranian drone over its waters.

Why the flare‑up matters

Both sides are operating in a narrow corridor that handles a large share of global oil shipments. Any disruption to the Strait of Hormuz can push crude prices higher, as seen when Brent futures rose nearly 2 % after the Larak strike. The attacks also come as the United States tightens sanctions on Iran; Scott Bessent, the US Treasury secretary, told reporters the goal of the sanctions is to create conditions that bring Tehran to the negotiating table.

Political and diplomatic fallout

JD Vance, the US vice‑presidential candidate, suggested Trump’s Kharg post was a signal to Iran, even as the president has said he does not announce military actions on social media. In Tehran, President Masoud Pezeshkian told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Iran still favours a negotiated solution and that continued fighting benefits no one.

"We're going to hit them hard," Donald Trump said when asked about a possible US response.

Iranian officials warned that vessels violating Tehran’s rules in the Hormuz corridor could face harsher treatment, hinting at a broader threat to commercial shipping. Meanwhile, the UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said Iran’s policy of targeting Gulf states has failed and called for de‑escalation.

What comes next

Analysts expect Washington to weigh a calibrated response, balancing the desire to deter further Iranian strikes with the risk of a wider conflagration. The next few days could see renewed diplomatic overtures, especially if oil markets react sharply. Continued US sanctions and potential new measures will likely aim to pressure Iran back to negotiations, while Tehran may test the limits of its regional reach.