President Donald Trump and his senior aides are considering limited strikes against Iranian military capabilities in and around the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Tehran from rebuilding the radar and missile systems used to target ships, Axios reported Monday.
The plan, developed over the past week by US Central Command and backed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had not been approved before the latest exchange of fire, according to three US officials cited by Axios, who referred to an attack by Washington on Iran’s Larak Island, which prompted retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Republic targeting US bases in UAE and Jordan.
Trump weighing limited strikes against Iran to curb Hormuz attacks https://t.co/KJnTkK6blf
— Axios (@axios) August 31, 2026
The proposed strikes would reportedly seek to periodically degrade Iran’s radar, air defense and anti-ship missile capabilities, a strategy one official described as “mowing the lawn”—to reduce the risk of attacks on oil tankers and US military assets operating in the strategic waterway, according to Axios.
The American news website reported that the White House had been leaning against approving the plan to avoid further escalation. However, Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan on Sunday could shift Trump’s position, it added.
Meanwhile, Axios pointed to growing concerns by the CENTCOM about Iran’s efforts to rebuild military capabilities damaged during months of US attacks in the strait, including radar, air defense and anti-ship missile systems, according to US officials.
One recent incident involved an Iranian anti-aircraft missile launched toward a US F-35 providing cover for ships in the waterway. While the missile did not pose a direct threat, US officials viewed the incident as a sign that Iran was reconstituting its military capabilities, Axios reported.