Trump weighs ‘limited military action’ against Iran to protect Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump is weighing whether to authorize limited military action against Iran along the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington considers how to prevent Tehran from rebuilding coastal radar and missile capabilities.

The discussion follows renewed U.S.-Iran clashes on Aug. 30, one month after an earlier confrontation. Trump described the latest standoff as a “small war,” while Axios reported that the president and senior aides were assessing the advantages and risks of a limited strike.

U.S. Central Command has spent several weeks developing plans aimed at reducing threats to tankers, naval vessels and fighter aircraft. The planning reportedly has the support of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. CENTCOM told Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine and other senior officials that regular bombing of Iran might be needed to keep ships safely leaving the Persian Gulf each day.

The White House had still leaned against airstrikes the previous week, seeking to avoid an escalation with Tehran. That position may have changed after Iran responded with ballistic missiles against a U.S. military base in Jordan.

The report also cited an incident in which an Iranian air-defense missile locked onto an F-35 fighter escorting ships. The missile was not close enough to pose a threat, but the episode was presented as evidence that Iran was trying to rebuild its military capacity. Trump had previously declined to approve the operation, though the latest exchange may lead him to reconsider.

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