U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it launched new strikes against targets connected to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. The U.S. military stated that these actions targeted positions on Iran’s southern coast, including areas along the Strait of Hormuz, Qeshm Island, and the cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik. Iranian state television reported that the strikes hit Jiroft airport in Kerman province and residential areas, resulting in two deaths and several injuries during a wedding ceremony in Hormozgan province.
The strikes followed a U.S. strike on Larak Island on Sunday, Aug. 30. CENTCOM spokespersons stated that the Sunday operation was conducted after the IRGC was observed preparing to place sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Following the Tuesday strikes, President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. acted in response to the mining attempts and an unsuccessful Iranian attack on an American base in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran responded late Tuesday by launching drones and missiles. The Jordanian military reported early Wednesday that it had intercepted 10 out of 13 ballistic missiles originating from Iranian territory, with the remaining three falling in remote areas. No casualties were reported in Jordan. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a pressure campaign to "economically asphyxiate" the Iranian government, including the closure of a branch of an Egyptian bank in the United Arab Emirates that he said transferred $1.8 billion to the Iranian government.
The economic impact includes the potential for new U.S. bank sanctions, which Secretary Bessent indicated would be announced weekly. The $1.8 billion recently blocked from one regional bank demonstrates the scale of the financial restrictions aimed at the Iranian government. For civilians in southern Iran, the conflict has shifted from maritime confrontations to land-based impacts, with reported strikes on infrastructure like Jiroft airport and residential areas.
Looking ahead, President Trump warned that Iran would be "hit much harder" if it continues to retaliate, noting that a larger attack is "waiting in the wings." Meanwhile, international diplomatic efforts continue as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday to discuss strategic cooperation and assistance. Qatar has also stated its intention to intensify efforts to rekindle talks between the U.S. and Iran.