President Donald Trump stated on September 1 that the United States is conducting large and powerful strikes against Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, in retaliation for Iran's failed attempt to add sea mines to the strait and for firing eight missiles at a U.S. military base in Jordan.
Trump said the sea mines have been "completely removed or detonated" and that the eight missiles were "all successfully knocked down." He warned that "if the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, 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!"
The president described the current strikes as "large and powerful" and emphasized that any retaliation from Iran would be met with "much harder and higher level" strikes. The scope and duration of the operation remain unclear.
