West Asia LIVE: U.S. strikes Iran for first time in a month, Tehran retaliates

Home News World Jordan’s army said it had intercepted eight missiles, shortly after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked U.S. military targets in the Washington-allied kingdom. Updated - August 31, 2026 07:56 am IST U.S. forces struck two launchers ‌on ⁠Iran's Larak Island in the Hormuz Strait on August 30, the ⁠first known American strikes on the Gulf nation since late July. File | Photo Credit: WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Oil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel on Monday (August 31, 2026) after ⁠the U.S. attacked an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz and drew retaliation from Tehran, as conflict in West Asia extended into its sixth month.Also Read | India is losing West Asia, but it is not too late The United States said on Sunday (August 30, 2026) it had attacked Iranian rocket launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz, its first strikes on Iran in a month, prompting Tehran to retaliate.Also Read | The West Asia cauldron of conflict and its falloutThe U.S. strikes resulted in “casualties,” said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which in turn attacked U.S. military targets in Jordan, state media reported.(With inputs from AFP, Reuters)August 31, 2026 07:50 Bessent signals more sanctionsU.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Reuters on Sunday (August 30, 2026) new secondary sanctions were ‌likely ⁠to be unveiled weekly in the effort to pressure Iran, with an initial focus ⁠on banks.“We’re starting with the banks, and we’re telling the banks it’s not okay to have Iranian money and to aid the regime,” Mr. Bessent said in an interview.After imposing penalties on the United Arab Emirates branches of Egypt’s Banque Misr on Friday over alleged financial links to Iran, Mr. Bessent said ‌the next step may be cutting off an institution entirely from the dollar-based financial system.“You’re going to see a lot more of these every week,” Mr. Bessent said ahead of a meeting of Group of 20 finance leaders.- ReutersAugust 31, 2026 07:47 U.S. strikes Iran for first time in a month, Tehran retaliatesThe United States said on Sunday (August 30, 2026) it had attacked Iranian rocket launchers on a small island in the Strait of Hormuz, its first strikes on Iran in a month, prompting Tehran to retaliate.The U.S. strikes resulted in “casualties,” said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which in turn attacked US military targets in Jordan, state media reported.The Guards “targeted technical infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and enemy fighter jet positions at the U.S.-operated King Hussein and Al-Azraq airbases in Jordan” with ballistic missiles, causing “heavy damage,” according to state TV.- AFPAugust 31, 2026 07:45 Jordan army says intercepted eight missiles: statementJordan’s army said on Monday (August 31, 2026) it had intercepted eight missiles, shortly after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had attacked U.S. military targets in the Washington-allied kingdom.“Air defense systems intercepted eight missiles that breached the Kingdom’s airspace at dawn today, Monday,” read a statement quoting the army’s spokesperson.- AFPAugust 31, 2026 07:42 Oil jumps more than 1% after U.S. attack on Iran's Larak islandOil prices jumped more than $1 a barrel on Monday after ⁠the U.S. attacked an Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz and drew retaliation from Tehran, as conflict in the West Asia extended into its sixth month.Brent ‌crude futures climbed $1.08, or 1.23%, to $89.18 a barrel as at 0040 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was ‌at $84.32, up 92 cents, or 1.10%.- Reuters Published - August 31, 2026 07:50 am IST