US resumes military strikes on Iran, Iran retaliates with missiles at US troops in Jordan

The USA attacks targets in Iran, Tehran responds with missiles. With congressional elections approaching, Republicans have little time to improve their position.

31.8.2026 | 4:22 PM

Derogatory poster for Donald Trump in Tehran with a mocking message: "Great Victory! Strait of Hormuz" Photo: Vahid Salemi/ap/dpa

From Washington — Hansjürgen Mai

After weeks of deceptive calm, the USA has resumed its military attacks on Iran. The US military attacked Iranian positions in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. Iran responded with missile attacks on US troops in Jordan. The latest exchange of blows comes just days after the US government announced it would increasingly rely on economic pressure against Tehran to end the war that has been ongoing for more than six months.

Meanwhile, political pressure on the Republican Party of US President Donald Trump is growing in the USA due to the ongoing war. The president's approval ratings are in the basement. At the same time, rising prices resulting from the tense situation in the Strait of Hormuz threaten the slim majorities of the Republicans in the US Congress. With about two months until the congressional elections, Republicans have little time to improve their starting position. The renewed military escalation is unlikely to help them.

According to Iranian reports, US forces attacked missile launch sites on Larak, an island located in the Strait of Hormuz, on Sunday. Several explosions are said to have occurred there. According to a US military spokesman, units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard were observed preparing to fire missiles and naval mines into the strait.

"Iran created the threat, and the US military eliminated it to protect civilian sailors, commercial shipping, and the free flow of global trade," the US military command Centcom stated on X. Just last week, the US military announced it had cleared the international shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz of naval mines. While the Iranian leadership described the US attack as an act of aggression, Centcom called it a "limited, targeted measure" against units of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). According to Iranian media, there were fatalities and injuries in the attacks.

Nearly a Month Without US Military Attacks

In response, Iran fired missiles at US troops stationed in Jordan. Jordan's military confirmed intercepting eight missiles in its airspace early Monday morning. Nothing is known about any damage or casualties among US troops.

The US military last confirmed attacks on Iran on July 29. At that time, American forces attacked dozens of targets of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Just a few days later, on August 1, Trump announced he would refrain from further attacks for the time being. Talks with the Gulf states of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates played an important role in his decision. This ceasefire lasted until Sunday.

Domestic Political Pressure

Trump himself is trying to publicly sell the war as a success. In an interview with Fox News broadcast on Sunday evening, he described the US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as a great success. "The blockade is incredible," Trump said. Washington is thus exerting significant financial pressure on Tehran, whose oil and energy exports are a central source of revenue.

Although commercial ships are now passing through the Strait of Hormuz daily again, the numbers are still significantly lower than before the war began. The restricted shipping and fears of further supply disruptions have driven up energy prices. Rising prices and other economic issues are particularly concerning many US voters ahead of the congressional elections.

In the interview, Trump also repeated the statement that the Iranian military had been destroyed. At the same time, US intelligence analyses come to the conclusion...