Sina Azodi, director of the Middle East Studies Program at George Washington University, stated that the reason for the US strike on Larak Island was "where Iran is dispersing its asset deployments in its efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz." The US is attempting to weaken Iran's ability to monitor and surveillance ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, not just its ability to strike ships.
The attack on the island follows a consistent pattern since July, when Iran's entire southern coastline was on the US target list. The US claim that Iran was preparing to lay mines is credible. When asked if Iran had been waiting for an opportunity to strike Jordan, he stated that Tehran's war plans "were prepared in advance."
