U.S. military forces carried out strikes against Iranian missile launchers near the Strait of Hormuz after officials determined Iran was preparing to seed the critical shipping lane with mines, according to multiple reports published Sunday and Monday. The strikes mark a significant escalation in direct military confrontation between the two countries.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by vowing severe repercussions for the U.S. action, and exchanges of military strikes were also reported in the vicinity of Jordan. The flare-up represents one of the most direct military engagements between American and Iranian forces in recent years, raising concerns about the potential for broader conflict in the region.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20 percent of the world's oil supply, making any disruption to navigation there a matter of global economic consequence. The U.S. said its preemptive strikes were aimed at neutralizing the mining threat before it could be carried out, though Iran disputed the characterization of its activities in the area.

Separately, Treasury Secretary Bessent told the Associated Press that the United States plans to sanction at least one additional Iranian bank as part of a broader effort to clamp down on Iranian financial transactions. The move signals that Washington is pursuing both military and economic pressure tracks simultaneously.

Inside Iran, reports indicate that domestic protests have been intensifying, with citizens in several cities demanding an end to Ayatollah rule. Analysts note the dual pressures of external military confrontation and internal unrest present a complicated calculus for Iranian leadership as it weighs its next moves.