US military leaders warn against extended operations against Iran

Several top military leaders said in an assessment that a prolonged large-scale operation against Iran is not sustainable, unnamed sources told The Washington Post, as the US military resumed striking Iranian rocket launchers along the Strait of Hormuz.

The assessment was prepared for Defense Secretary Pate Hegseth by heads of the US Army, the Navy and the Air Force, as well as top commanders in other theaters, such as Europe, Asia and Latin America, The Post reported.

The regular assessment looks at the availability of US military equipment worldwide. Many of the commanders in these regions have had equipment pulled away to be utilized against Iran.

"Decisions regarding the scope and duration of specific force commitments to any combatant command are made based on the current threat assessment, strategic priorities established by the president, and the advice of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and combatant commanders," Sean Parnell, a spokesman for Hegseth, said in a statement to The Washington Post.

The Pentagon "does not discuss internal operational processes … or specific concurrences, non-concurrences, or risk assessments provided by the services or combatant commands during force allocation deliberations," he added.

Dozens of US ships have been redeployed to enforce the US maritime blockade of Iran, US Central Command said on Sunday night.

"As of August 30, CENTCOM forces have redirected 83 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 to ensure compliance with the blockade," US Central Command said on social media.

Meanwhile, the US resumed military action for the first time in a month, striking two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

"Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz," said Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command. The US military had spent the last week clearing mines in the strait, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil was transported before the war broke out on Feb 28.

Trump said that 24 vessels were able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz last week, though that is far below the 130 or so ships that made the trip daily before the hostilities began.

Iranian media reported explosions around Larak island in the strait, resulting in a number of deaths. In a statement, the IRGC noted "the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots", and vowed to retaliate.

The IRGC told Iranian media that Sunday's attack was a "fatal mistake by the Trump regime during the economic war", and the US will pay the consequences militarily and economically.

The attack "will be answered by the sons of Iran and will result in the punishment of the aggressor", the IRGC said.

It was the first attack by US forces since US President Donald Trump on Aug 1 ordered the military to hold off on new strikes, citing requests from US allies Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Since then, the US has looked at increasing pressure on Iran economically, with Trump pledging to unleash an "economic D-Day" against Tehran, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning that countries doing business with Iran would face retaliation if they didn't cut financial ties.

"Iran's trading partners, both in the media and through messages sent to us, have made it clear that they don't take these statements into account anywhere," Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf responded to Bessent at the time with a post on X.

The White House said last week that there are currently no ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran to end the conflict.