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Report: Trump Weighs Limited Strikes on Iran to Protect Shipping in Strait of Hormuz
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Report: Trump Weighs Limited Strikes on Iran to Protect Shipping in Strait of Hormuz

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • President Donald Trump and senior aides are considering limited strikes against Iranian radar and missile capabilities in the Strait of Hormuz, three U.S. officials told Axios.
  • The proposal, developed by U.S. Central Command and supported by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, aims to reduce threats to tankers and U.S. military aircraft and ships.
  • The discussions follow Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan and a U.S. strike on Iranian forces accused of preparing to deploy sea mines near the strait.

The Trump administration is weighing a plan for limited strikes against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials cited by Axios. The proposed operations would target radar and missile capabilities that Washington believes Tehran is rebuilding to threaten shipping.

mowing the lawn

— U.S. officialThe official used the phrase to describe periodic strikes intended to reduce the risk of Iranian attacks.

One official described the aim as “mowing the lawn,” meaning periodic attacks intended to reduce the risk to oil tankers, U.S. Navy ships and Air Force aircraft. U.S. Central Command developed the plan over the past week and sent it to the White House several days ago with the support of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The White House had leaned against approving the strikes last week because of concerns that they could escalate tensions with Iran. That position could change after Iran launched ballistic missile attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan on Sunday, officials said. One U.S. official also said Iran recently fired an anti-aircraft missile toward an F-35 fighter jet covering ships in the strait. The missile did not come close enough to pose a threat, but the official described it as evidence that Iran was rebuilding its military capacity.

We're going to hit them hard

— Donald TrumpTrump told Fox News that the United States would retaliate for Iran's attacks on U.S. forces in Jordan.

CENTCOM has told Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine and the White House that U.S. forces might need to strike Iran periodically to help move dozens of oil tankers through the Gulf each day. The strait normally carries about a fifth of global crude oil and gas shipments, but it has been effectively blocked since the war began.

There will be a response

— Donald TrumpTrump warned that the United States would respond to Tehran's targeting of its forces.

The report followed a new exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran. U.S. forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island after Revolutionary Guard forces were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, a U.S. official said. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported three deaths, while state-affiliated Nournews identified two victims as members of the Revolutionary Guards Navy. Trump later told Fox News, “We’re going to hit them hard,” adding, “There will be a response.” A senior Iranian source told Reuters, “For every US attack on Iran, Tehran will respond dozens of times more forcefully, and no target in the region is beyond our reach.”

For every US attack on Iran, Tehran will respond dozens of times more forcefully, and no target in the region is beyond our reach.

— Senior Iranian sourceThe source described Iran's threatened response to any further U.S. attack.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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