The U.S. military deployed a B-1 long-range bomber on Tuesday to strike Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran. This mission, launched from a UK airbase, marks a significant escalation in a conflict over the Strait of Hormuz that has seen 12 days of fighting.
The introduction of the B-1 bomber into the theater represents the first time the U.S. has used the aircraft since fighting with Iran resumed 12 days ago. Capable of carrying dozens of cruise missiles or two dozen 2,000-lb. bombs, the B-1’s presence signals a significant escalation and expansion of the U.S. military campaign. While Axios reported that the aircraft was spotted via online plane tracking websites, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) did not announce the B-1 mission in its statement on Tuesday regarding the day’s strikes.
CENTCOM Targets and the Battle for the Strait of Hormuz
The primary objective of the current campaign is to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. According to AP News, the U.S. is pushing to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.
“CENTCOM assets targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and military logistics infrastructure to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,”
CENTCOM statement, via Axios
Despite these strikes, the U.S. government is divided on the actual state of Iran’s naval power. Some defense officials claim Iran’s military capability around the strait is almost nonexistent
, while others maintain that Tehran is still capable of attacking ships. For its part, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, has dismissed U.S. threats, stating on social media that the situation in the strait will not return to prewar conditions.
Trump’s Infrastructure Threats and the “Eye for an Eye” Doctrine
The conflict has moved beyond military installations to include civilian infrastructure. President Donald Trump has stated that the U.S. will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the strait.
“From this point forward, any time the Islamic Republic of Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz, whether it be by Missile, Rocket, Drone, or any other device or weapon, the United States will bomb and destroy ONE BRIDGE OR POWER PLANT,”
Donald Trump, via AP News
Iran has responded with its own doctrine of reciprocity. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X that any aggression against Iranian infrastructure will compel a powerful and decisive response,
adopting what he called an eye for an eye
defense strategy. This cycle of escalation has already manifested in strikes near the western Iranian cities of Ramshir, Andimeshk, and Ahvaz, as well as a strike in Shalamcheh on the Iraqi border that killed two people.
Economic Toll and the $37.5 Billion War Cost
The financial and economic impact of the conflict is mounting. During a Senate hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth estimated that the U.S. has already spent $37.5 billion on the war. The global energy market has reacted to the closure of the strait, which typically handles a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas.
| Metric | Pre-War/Early Month | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Brent Crude Oil | Less than $72/barrel | More than $93/barrel |
| U.S. War Expenditure | — | $37.5 billion |
Beyond the Gulf, the conflict is expanding. Moneycontrol reported that Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched attacks on Saudi ships and announced a blockade on Saudi ports. U.S. officials suggest Iran may be using the Houthis to create a second front in the Red Sea to pressure the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, leading commercial vessels to alter their courses to avoid the area.
Diplomatic Deadlock and the Qatari-Omani Mediators
While the B-1 bombers fly, diplomatic channels remain open but fragile. Qatari mediators are currently coordinating with U.S., Iranian, and Omani officials to find a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, a regional source told Axios that Iranian leadership has not accepted the latest proposal.
Despite this, Gulf states are reportedly pessimistic. An anonymous Arab diplomat told AP News that the chances for improvement currently appear bleak
.
President Trump has expressed skepticism regarding Iran’s willingness to negotiate, stating in a speech in Georgia that while the Iranians want to make a deal
because they are being hit hard, they are not yet ready because they attempt to change the terms of every agreement. He concluded that they will be ready very soon.
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