The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes for the first time in roughly a month, with American forces hitting Iranian rocket launchers and Tehran responding by firing missiles toward Jordan. U.S. Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said the Iranian military was preparing to launch mines-laden rockets into the Strait of Hormuz at the time of the strike. He added that "American forces are closely monitoring the area and stand ready to protect freedom of navigation in this vital waterway." Iran's official IRNA news agency reported on X that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile and drone attacks early Monday on a U.S. airbase in Jordan as retaliation for the American assault. According to the Jordan News Agency, the Jordanian military intercepted and destroyed eight missiles that entered its airspace, with no reported losses.

The end of a relatively quiet period of several weeks on the military front has driven oil prices higher. Brent crude rose 2.4%, climbing above $90 per barrel. This marks the first U.S. military action against Iran since late July. President Donald Trump had previously pivoted to a pressure campaign aimed at squeezing Iran's economy. Tehran-linked nations have so far ignored U.S. threats of sanctions, and the initial American steps have failed to impress analysts.

Any sustained resumption of hostilities could push up energy costs and intensify inflation, unsettling global investors and complicating Republican efforts to defend control of Congress in the November midterm elections. Polls show growing voter discontent with the war and Trump's inability to end it. The U.S. military last week said it had completed clearing mines from the shipping lanes in the strait, a route that once served as an international waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes. However, U.S. allies have questioned the claim that the strait is now mine-free.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week that Tehran remains open to resuming diplomatic dialogue with Washington, but noted that progress depends on the U.S. abandoning its pressure tactics. Following what he described as "creative discussions" with Qatar, a conflict mediator, Araghchi stated on social media that progress "depends on America's ability to grasp a simple fact: pressure doesn't work."