US Considers Repeated Strikes on Iran in Strait of Hormuz

The United States is weighing a strategy of periodic, targeted strikes against Iranian military installations in the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at preventing Tehran from restoring its ability to threaten oil tankers and naval vessels transiting the strategic waterway. According to journalist Barak Ravid, citing three senior American officials, the plan represents a shift toward sustained military pressure rather than one-time responses.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, developed the proposal and presented it to senior Pentagon leadership and the White House. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed support for the approach, though President Donald Trump had not yet authorized it prior to the latest escalation with Iran.

One American official described the concept as a "mowing the lawn" policy: limited strikes conducted periodically to degrade capabilities Iran is attempting to rebuild, preventing the country from posing a significant threat to oil tankers, US Navy ships, and American aircraft operating in the region.

White House officials expressed reservations about approving the plan last week, concerned that additional strikes could trigger broader escalation between the two countries. However, Sunday's Iranian missile attack on American bases in Jordan may prompt a reconsideration of that position.

Trump himself has signaled his intention to respond. In an interview with Fox News, he stated that the United States would retaliate to the Iranian attack and "hit them hard."

A senior White House official indicated that the president is keeping all options on the table: "President Trump has all options before him. The Iranians want to reach a deal, but they always arrive one day too late and with one dollar too little to close."

The question now is whether Trump will opt for a single, targeted response to the recent attack, or embrace CENTCOM's broader plan—which would authorize the American military to repeatedly strike Iranian capabilities in the Strait whenever Tehran attempts to rebuild them.