Attention is once again turning to the Strait of Hormuz, where US President Donald Trump and his senior aides are considering the option of directing limited strikes against Iran, as part of a plan aimed at preventing Tehran from rebuilding its radar and missile capabilities that would allow it to attack ships in the vital sea lane.

According to a report by journalist Barak Ravid on the Axios website, citing three American officials, Trump and his senior aides are considering implementing limited strikes in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from reconfiguring its capabilities in the field of radars and missiles used to target ships.

According to the report, the US Central Command (Centcom) developed the plan last week, and it received the support of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but Trump had not approved it before the exchange of fire with Iran over the weekend. However, the new escalation may prompt him to give the green light to implement it.

An American official said that the idea of ​​the plan is to reduce the risks of Iranian attacks on oil tankers, US Navy ships, and Air Force aircraft, describing its goal as “mowing the lawn.”

The text quoted the White House as saying, “The President reserves all options available to him. The Iranians want to reach an agreement, but they are always a day late and are short of a dollar.”

Over the past two months, the US military has gradually taken control of most of the strait through a campaign aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities, in parallel with a limited mine-clearing operation and efforts to accompany and guide ships as they pass through the strait.

These moves limited Iran’s ability to strike oil tankers, while allowing increased ship movement and oil exports through the strait, which contributed to reducing Iran’s pressure cards in this sensitive sea corridor.

But behind the scenes, US Central Command expressed concern about Iranian efforts to rebuild its capabilities in the field of radars, air defense, and anti-ship missiles in the strait, allowing Tehran to target ships with greater precision.

Among the incidents that raised American concern in recent days was the launching of an Iranian anti-aircraft missile at an American F-35 fighter, which was providing protection for ships in the strait, according to an American official.

Although the missile did not come close enough to pose a threat to the fighter, the American official considered the incident an indication that Iran is working to rebuild its military capabilities.

Centcom informed Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Keane, and the White House in recent days that the US military may need to launch periodic strikes on Iran, in order to continue removing dozens of oil tankers from the Gulf daily with relative safety.

According to American officials, Hegseth supported this plan and referred it to the White House several days ago.

Officials indicated that the White House was inclined over the past week not to approve the strikes, with the aim of avoiding escalation of the confrontation with Iran.

However, Iranian ballistic missile attacks on American bases in Jordan on Sunday may change Trump’s position. These attacks came after American strikes targeted Iranian forces that were preparing to launch missiles equipped with mines towards the strait.

In an additional indication of the possibility of a change in American calculations, Trump told Fox News on Monday morning that the United States will respond to Iranian attacks and “will hit them hard.”

Between a ready plan in the White House and a new field escalation in Hormuz, the option that was unlikely to avoid expanding the confrontation has become closer to the decision table, while the final word remains with Trump.