DUBAI, June 28: Iran on Sunday launched drone and missile strikes targeting Bahrain and Kuwait in retaliation for recent US airstrikes on Iranian territory, significantly escalating tensions in the Gulf. Tehran also warned that it could completely suspend negotiations aimed at ending the conflict if Washington continued military operations against the Islamic Republic.
The latest escalation centres on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies passes. Efforts by the United States and its allies to establish expanded shipping routes near Oman without Iran’s direct oversight have become a major source of dispute.
A multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy recently announced plans to widen maritime corridors for inbound and outbound traffic, prompting sharp objections from Tehran.
Although the international community considers the Strait of Hormuz an international waterway, Iran insists it has the sole authority to regulate navigation through the narrow passage, which lies partly within Iranian and Omani territorial waters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated this position during a visit to Iraq, warning that any alternative arrangements would only increase tensions, delay the reopening of the strait, and provoke further confrontations. Iran has also been accused of attacking vessels using routes on the Omani side of the strait in recent days.
Despite the military escalation, the US and Iran remain engaged in negotiations over an interim peace agreement. Discussions include shipping arrangements through the strait, the lifting of US sanctions and blockades, and the future of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed earlier this month, both sides have 60 days to finalise the details. However, the latest hostilities threaten to derail the agreement before it is completed.
Iran’s attacks primarily targeted Gulf states hosting major US military facilities.
Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles and several drones, with no casualties or damage reported. Bahrain said Iranian strikes damaged a residential building near its international airport, though no deaths were reported.
Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, condemned the attacks as a deliberate pattern of aggression. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for both operations.
The US military responded by striking Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and naval minelayer capabilities.
According to US Central Command, the strikes were carried out after Iran allegedly attacked a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker carrying Qatari crude. US President Donald Trump accused Iran of repeatedly violating the ceasefire, warning that continued aggression could force Washington to escalate military action further.
The regional conflict also continues to affect Lebanon, where clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group persist despite efforts to secure a ceasefire.
Hezbollah reportedly killed an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Iran maintains that any lasting ceasefire must also include an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas.
While Israel and the Lebanese government recently signed a framework agreement to end hostilities, Hezbollah and Iran have rejected the deal, arguing it fails to address their concerns.
The widening conflict across the Gulf and Lebanon has heightened fears of a broader regional war and poses a serious challenge to ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing lasting peace. (AP)
