The president has wavered on whether to move ahead with an agreement with Iran to end the war. On Friday, he vowed to make a “final determination” soon.
President Trump’s pendulum swings on Iran have often seemed driven by mood and moment rather than any discernible strategy.
The American blockade and Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz have created a stalemate that is neither peace nor raging conflict, with both sides attempting economic strangulation on the water.
As a potential cease-fire hangs in the balance, an official said the strikes were in self-defense, with targets including four one-way attack drones launched by Iran.
Two U.S. officials said Iran launched drones near American ships, sent speedboats to mine the Strait of Hormuz and stepped up activity at some of its missile sites.
Military officials said that the strikes targeted missile sites near a major Iranian port that threatened U.S. ships and planes.
Iran is trying to assert its control over the strait by charging for passage. Experts say it is unlikely to happen, but the threat has unsettled the shipping industry.
There is no shortage of targets should President Trump, in coordination with Israel, decide to resume the assault on Iran.
There is no shortage of targets if he decides to strike: Energy facilities left untouched, the deep underground nuclear storage site at Isfahan and missile sites that appear to have been dug out.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is taking on a problem that the Pentagon and Congress have tried, and mostly failed, to address for years.