{"text":[[{"start":13.5,"text":"The US military has struck two Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz, in the first American attack on Tehran’s forces in more than a month."}],[{"start":22.5,"text":"Iran swiftly retaliated by launching missiles at Jordan."}],[{"start":26.5,"text":"“Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into [the] Strait of Hormuz”, prompting American forces to strike two launchers on Larak Island, said Captain Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command, on Sunday. Centcom oversees Washington’s military operations in the Middle East."}],[{"start":48.35,"text":"Tehran lobbed “a few missiles” at Jordan in retaliation but they were intercepted by American forces, according to a person familiar with the matter. "}],[{"start":57.1,"text":"The attacks caused oil prices to briefly rise above $90 a barrel, as traders considered whether the resumption of hostilities posed an additional risk to flows from the Middle East. "}],[{"start":68.15,"text":"“Tonight’s renewed strikes on Iran not only underscore the fragility of de-escalation, but the adamancy of the IRGC to complicate free transit in the Strait of Hormuz,” said Michael Alfaro, chief investment officer of Gallo Partners, an energy and industrials-focused hedge fund. "}],[{"start":85.7,"text":"“This situation feels like an endless powder keg which continues to embed a premium in prices,” he said."}],[{"start":92.65,"text":"The American attack appeared smaller and more focused than its last known strikes on the Islamic republic on July 29, during which US forces hit “dozens” of targets in a two-hour wave of bombings."}],[{"start":105.7,"text":"Last month featured about three weeks of tit-for-tat strikes between the US and Iran that threatened a return to full-blown war and failed to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or bring down the Islamic regime."}],[{"start":118.10000000000001,"text":"Since then, the US has shifted to prioritising economic warfare to try to pressure Tehran into capitulation."}],[{"start":124.7,"text":"On Monday, US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Washington was expanding secondary sanctions on Iran, threatening measures that could “blow up” the global financial system."}],[{"start":135.85,"text":"However, Bessent has stopped short of hitting Iran with the “economic D-Day” he had threatened, and provided no deadline for Tehran’s trading partners to comply. "}],[{"start":145.4,"text":"So far, Washington has only revoked US financial access to an Egyptian bank’s branches in the United Arab Emirates."}],[{"start":153.6,"text":"The limited first move from Bessent showed Washington was hesitant to go after bigger financial targets that help finance the Iranian regime, including major banks and state-backed entities in China, out of fear of further destabilising the global economy and financial markets."}],[{"start":170.7,"text":"Bessent told the AP on Sunday that the US would announce an action against another bank in the coming days."}],[{"start":177.85,"text":"The six-month war between the US and Iran has become a stalemate, and talks between Washington and Tehran have collapsed."}],[{"start":185.85,"text":"US President Donald Trump has struggled to end the conflict, which has stoked inflation and is unpopular with American voters ahead of crucial midterm elections in November."}],[{"start":197,"text":"In Tehran on Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its aerospace force had carried out a retaliatory strike against technical and maintenance infrastructure as well as fighter jet positions at two American air bases in Jordan, using ballistic missiles and drones. "}],[{"start":212.35,"text":"It added that the US will not be able to “weaken Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz through aggression” and threatened to “forcefully respond” to every strike."}],[{"start":222.5,"text":"The IRGC also said the US strikes killed some military personnel and civilians."}],[{"start":228.4,"text":"The guards’ spokesperson, Hossein Mohebbi, described the attack as a “strategic and fatal mistake” that “will shift the balance against those who devised it”."}],[{"start":236.5,"text":"Despite the apparently limited nature of the US attack, the exchange of fire between Washington and Tehran risks escalation and a return to violence between the foes."}],[{"start":247.15,"text":"The US military had finished clearing mines from international shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz last week, said Hawkins."}],[{"start":253.85,"text":"Before the US and Israel unleashed the war on Iran in February, about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas was transported through the strategic waterway."}],[{"start":263.15,"text":"The US is maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports, and since mid-July has fired on three commercial ships to disable them and turned around more than 80 vessels, according to Centcom."}],[{"start":274,"text":"“US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce” through the Strait of Hormuz, said Hawkins."}],[{"start":290.65,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1788136204_2150.mp3"}