US forces launched fresh strikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets inside Iran on Tuesday, 2 September, marking a sharp escalation in the military confrontation between Washington and Tehran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the strikes were carried out at 12 pm Eastern Time (1600 GMT), citing recent IRGC attacks on commercial shipping and US personnel in the region.

Trump's Warning and Threat of Wider War

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on his Truth Social platform shortly after the strikes were confirmed. 'If Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level,' Trump wrote, describing the new strikes near the Strait of Hormuz as 'large and powerful.'

In the same post, Trump escalated further: 'But it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!' In a separate phone interview with Fox News, Trump claimed US forces had destroyed 'a lot of radar' in Iran's air defence network, including systems Tehran had attempted to rebuild. 'If it goes a third time, they're going to be totally wiped out as a country,' he said.

Trump also confirmed that Gulf allies were notified ahead of the strikes, and referenced the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, saying it was 'loaded to the gills.'

What CENTCOM Said

CENTCOM stated that the strikes were a direct response to the IRGC's recent attempted attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and on US service members deployed in the region. The command did not immediately specify the exact targets hit or confirm battle damage assessments.

Explosions Reported Across Iranian Ports

Explosions were reportedly heard on Tuesday in the Iranian port cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirik, and on Qeshm Island, according to reports reaching Washington. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing sources, reported that the Iranian military launched missiles toward US bases in regional countries on Tuesday evening. The IRGC warned, according to Iran's Fars news agency, that the United States 'will regret its new attacks.'

Strait of Hormuz Shipping Under Threat

The strikes come amid a dangerous deterioration in maritime security in one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. Greece-based maritime risk organisation Marisks reported on Tuesday that two crude oil tankers were struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening. The Strait handles an estimated 20% of global oil trade, and any sustained disruption risks immediate pressure on international crude prices.

What Comes Next

With Iran reportedly having launched retaliatory missiles toward US regional bases and the IRGC issuing explicit threats, the risk of a broader military exchange remains acute. Analysts note this is at least the second confirmed round of US strikes on Iranian soil in the current escalation cycle, with Trump signalling a third round would be qualitatively more severe. The coming hours will be critical in determining whether diplomatic back-channels can contain the confrontation.