Attacks flare between the U.S. and Iran after a monthlong pause
AMMAN, Jordan —
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Attacks → flare → pause
The U.S. military struck what it said were Iranian rocket launchers in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday while Iran retaliated with strikes on U.S. forces in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in the first major attacks between the two sides in more than a month.
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Iran → strike → month
The U.S. military said in an email to NPR that it struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Sunday that it said were preparing to fire sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz.
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it → say → Hormuz
The Iranian armed forces said those attacks against sites on Larak Island in the strait killed military personnel and civilians.
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attacks → say → personnel
Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at U.S. forces and helicopters at an air base in the UAE, and targeted bases in Jordan.
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Iran → retaliate → Jordan
It said the Jordanian bases and aircraft had been used to launch and support the U.S. attack on Larak Island, a strategic Iranian military post that overlooks shipping lanes near the port of Bandar Abbas.
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that → say → Abbas
The UAE denied Iranian state media reports that its al-Minhad Air Base had been targeted by missiles, but said it intercepted drones over its territorial waters that, it said, had been launched from Iran.
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it → deny → Iran
Jordan's armed forces said it had shot down eight missiles that entered the country's airspace.
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that → say → airspace
The Jordanian military did not comment on whether other drones or missiles had penetrated its defenses and reached the air bases.
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drones → comment → bases
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U.S. Central Command commander Adm. Brad Cooper said last week that U.S. forces had completed clearing sea mines from the strait's international shipping routes.
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forces → load → routes
Iran however said a supertanker that had caught fire over the weekend had struck two naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing it to a halt.
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that → say → halt
Iranian state TV quoted the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as saying the tanker was trying to pass through the waterway "illegally" and warned that it would do the same to any other vessel violating Iran's navigation restrictions.
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it → quote → restrictions
Iran considers entry without its authorization through the strait illegal, although maritime law provides for freedom of navigation through the waterway shared between Iran and Oman.
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law → consider → Iran
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran would respond to attacks, but was not seeking war.
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Iran → say → war
"We will never remain silent in the face of any aggression and will respond decisively to the aggressors," he was quoted as saying on state media.
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he → remain → media
The attacks Sunday followed weeks of threats, as well as even more restrictive economic sanctions on Iran announced last week by President Trump.
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attacks → follow → Trump
Trump also overnight posted what appeared to be an artificial intelligence-generated video of a large oil facility being attacked by missiles, accompanied by a caption that said "Kharg Island being blown to smithereens."
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Island → post → smithereens
There was no indication that Kharg Island had actually been attacked, and a senior Iranian oil official ridiculed the claim.
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official → be → claim
"Trump's tweets are laughable and conditions in Kharg are calm," said Hamid Bovard, head of state-run National Iranian Oil Co.
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Bovard → say → Co.
He said workers were continuing to repair damage from previous attacks on Kharg Island.
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workers → say → Island
The last time the U.S. struck Iran was on July 29, before Trump had ordered a halt to attacks after discussions with Gulf leaders.
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Trump → strike → leaders
The UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia all host U.S. military personnel and extensive installations, which Iran has targeted repeatedly since the start of the U.S. and Israeli war on Iran in February.
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Iran → host → February
While senior U.S. and Israeli officials have said their goal was to topple the Iranian regime, Iran's leaders have held on to power.
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leaders → say → power
The Trump administration's focus has since shifted to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that has been a chokepoint for oil traffic and other shipping, causing global energy prices to spike over the past six months.
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prices → shift → months
Jane Arraf reported from Amman, Jordan, and Hadeel Al-Shalchi reported from Istanbul, Turkey.
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Shalchi → report → Istanbul
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