U.S. Airstrike Hits Two Iranian Launch Platforms on Lark Island

Al-Taj News – A U.S. official said that U.S. forces carried out an airstrike on two Iranian missile launch platforms on Lark Island earlier Sunday, according to Axios.

The source added that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was observed preparing to launch missiles equipped with sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Later, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that an explosion was heard on Lark Island, noting that the exact location and cause of the explosion remained unknown.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency said that a U.S. drone attack targeted the island at around 18:40 GMT.

It added that “unofficial” reports indicated that two people were killed and two others were injured in the attack.

The United States had announced an expansion of the scope of secondary sanctions that can be imposed on entities and countries around the world that maintain trade relations with Iran, as part of the “Economic Outcast” operation against Iran, at a time when Washington is significantly escalating its economic pressure on Tehran as the war approaches its sixth month.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it was an “economic victory day,” aimed at issuing a final warning to countries to sever their trade relations with Iran, or else face the risk of their companies and key entities being cut off from the dollar-based financial system.

“We are launching an economic attack on Iranian financial links around the world. Our goal is to cut off every economic lifeline supporting this authoritarian regime until Tehran stands alone,” he added.

Iran has been holding talks with the Sultanate of Oman for weeks, while at the same time affirming that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed unless Washington fulfills its obligations stipulated in the memorandum of understanding concluded in mid-June, which provides, in particular, for lifting the U.S. blockade and economic sanctions imposed on Tehran.

IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohabi said that if the United States does not accept Iran’s conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened under any circumstances. However, if it abandons its obstruction and returns to the memorandum of understanding, the Strait of Hormuz could be opened; “therefore, it must accept our conditions.”

On June 18, 2026, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in preparation for reaching a final agreement, but its implementation stalled due to disputes related to the security of the strait.

Between July 8 and 24, the United States resumed its attacks on Iran, while Tehran responded by attacking countries in the region, before talks resumed regarding safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz.