US-Iran Tensions Flare Again as Sanctions Pressure Shows Limits

Direct military clashes between the US and Iran have resumed after about a month, fueling concern that Washington is reaching the limits of relying on sanctions alone to pressure Tehran.

Crypto-focused media outlet BlockBeats reported on August 31 that US forces destroyed two rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island on August 30. Iran then fired eight missiles at two air bases in Jordan, and all were intercepted, according to the report.

President Donald Trump later warned that the US could destroy Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub. In the market, the latest military escalation is being read as a sign that Washington's patience is wearing thin as it waits for sanctions on Iran to take effect.

Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington plans to impose new sanctions on Iran every week, focusing on the banking sector. The aim is to fully cut Iran-linked institutions off from the dollar financial system.

Still, experts said the chances of Trump's threat against Kharg Island turning into an actual strike remain limited. A direct attack on oil facilities could cause major environmental damage and sharply widen the conflict.

Concerns are also resurfacing over possible disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. About 7 million barrels a day of oil moved through the strait last week via an Oman route under US military escort. BlockBeats reported that if tensions around Larak Island persist, shipment volumes could fall in the coming days, adding further upward pressure on global oil prices.