Detailed Briefing
U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island, according to a U.S. official cited by Reuters, noting that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces were observed preparing to launch rockets equipped with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Tehran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. forces stationed in Jordan, as reported by Iranian state media, which also said several soldiers and civilians were killed or injured in the exchange. A Fox News reporter indicated that nearly all of the retaliatory missiles were intercepted and that no major impacts were observed.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a rare written message on his Telegram account during Islamic Unity Week, urging Gulf rulers to unite against what he termed their “real enemy,” calling for strengthened cooperation and mutual defence among Muslim countries, particularly those in West Asia and the Gulf. He also reminded Iranian authorities to avoid statements that could weaken public morale. Khamenei has not appeared publicly since being injured in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes six months ago that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The IRGC Intelligence Organization warned that the “enemy” was employing psychological warfare to undermine national stability and resilience, stating that Iran’s response would be to disrupt the enemy’s command capabilities, strike networks of terrorist collaborators, and confront those seeking to undermine stability and unity.
Iran continues to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, maintaining pressure on global energy markets. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran was in no hurry to reopen the strategic waterway. The IRGC affirmed its firm control of the strait, rejected U.S. statements about shipping access, and accused Washington of attempting to influence energy prices. The closure remains one of the war’s biggest risks to global oil supplies, given Hormuz’s role as a critical conduit for crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports from the Gulf.
Diplomatic efforts have yet to yield a breakthrough. Iraq has offered to act as a bridge between Tehran and Washington, while the Trump administration has stepped up economic pressure on Iran. Lebanon’s foreign ministry instructed Iran to conduct its relations through the country’s legitimate state institutions after Iran’s foreign minister expressed a desire to engage both the Lebanese government and other political factions.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a delayed notice of a tanker being struck by an unknown projectile 12 nautical miles north of Khasab, Oman, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz; no casualties were reported. Additionally, Yemen’s National Resistance Forces, an anti‑Houthi faction supporting the internationally recognized government, intercepted a vessel in the Red Sea that was reportedly transporting Iranian military equipment to the Houthis, including components for attack drones.
These developments occur roughly six months into the conflict, with Tehran facing intensified U.S. sanctions alongside ongoing military and economic pressure.