By Frankie Sanchez
Staff Writer
A new series of U.S.-Iranian exchanges began on Aug. 31, and continued into Sept. 1, according to CNN.
Iran fired upon American military targets in Jordan and the UAE, “In retaliation for a U.S. strike on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island,” according to CNN. The U.S. claims that Iran was attempting to deploy sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz, the focal point of the near six-month long conflict.
This first exchange caused oil prices to rise about three percent globally and lowered U.S. Stock indexes on Sept. 1, according to CNN.
CNN reported that a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, the U.S. strikes on Larak Island were due to Iranian forces attempting to launch rockets armed with mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command later commented in a post on X that it took “limited, precise action” against “minelaying forces posing an imminent threat.”
CNN reports that the state run Islamic Republic News Agency announced at least two people killed and more wounded as a result of the strikes. In a statement responding to the attacks, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sept. 1 that “We are not seeking war…but in the face of aggression, we will never sit idly by, and we are capable of delivering a decisive response.”
Following the vow of retaliation, Jordan’s army claimed to have intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered their airspace, according to CNN. The United Arab Emirates also detected a drone in its territorial waters, following an Iranian claim to target U.S. bases in the area.
In another statement on Sept. 1, Iran warned its neighbors not to allow the U.S. access to their territory, airspace, or territorial waters, CNN quoted Iranian state media in saying that it would “decisively strike the point of origin of any aggression.”
According to The Associated Press, the U.S. continued with more strikes on Iranian targets. Most strikes were focused on the area around the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters reported that a U.S. bombardment hit a wedding celebration in an Iranian community in Southern Iran on Sept. 1. Iranian State Media claims that five civilians were killed in the strike.
On Saturday Sept. 5, the U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers due to their claim that Iranian ballistic missiles targeted an American aircraft carrier and destroyer patrolling near Kharg Island in the northern Persian Gulf. No U.S. personnel were hurt in the attacks, and in their statement, the U.S. claimed it “permanently disabled” two oil carriers and destroyed a third, according to The Associated Press.
Half a year into the war with Iran, CNN reports that talks between Tehran and Washington have completely stalled. According to the White House, there are currently no ongoing negotiations. The most recent exchanges have been the first major ones since the Trump Administration's decision to focus more on economic policies against Iran, instead of direct military force.
President Trump has recently claimed in a post on Truth Social that he would enact the “Most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.” Economic sanctions can be expected for countries that still conduct business with Iran, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.
