Donald Trump is weighing a limited wave of strikes against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three U.S. officials briefed by Axios. The proposed action aims to impede Tehran’s effort to rebuild radar and missile systems that have been used to target commercial shipping. One official described the plan as “mowing the lawn” to lower the risk of further Iranian attacks after a recent missile launch aimed at an American F‑35 providing cover for vessels in the waterway.
The latest escalation followed a U.S. strike on Larak Island, where American forces hit two Iranian launchers that were preparing rockets equipped with sea mines for the strait. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported three fatalities, two of whom were identified as members of the Revolutionary Guards Navy. President Trump publicly threatened additional strikes, stating, “We’re going to hit them hard,” while insisting the exchanges did not signal a return to full‑scale war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled a shift toward economic pressure, indicating the United States is moving away from kinetic action and toward expanded sanctions after an interim deal to end hostilities collapsed in June. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has cost the U.S. military billions and contributed to rising energy prices that have drawn criticism from voters.
Amid the tension, a fabricated AI video posted by Trump on Truth Social claimed a strike on Iran’s Kharg Island. The Pentagon denied any such attack, and Iranian officials dismissed the footage as “laughable.” Trump’s press secretary confirmed no negotiations are underway, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that new secondary sanctions targeting Iranian banks are likely to be implemented weekly to increase economic pressure on Tehran.
