In response to recent U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic Republic, Iran conducted a series of drone and missile attacks targeting Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday. The Iranian government warned that Washington’s continued military action could lead to a total collapse of ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the regional conflict.
The current cycle of violence stems from attempts to navigate the Strait of Hormuz independently of Iran’s direct control. A multinational maritime coalition led by the U.S. Navy announced plans to expand transit routes near Oman, creating a new point of friction. Despite the strait being located within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman, Tehran claims exclusive governing authority over the passage, a position reaffirmed by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his visit to Baghdad.
Araghchi stated that any efforts to bypass the arrangements mandated by the Islamic Republic would only complicate matters, delay the reopening of the vital waterway, and escalate tensions. These developments threaten an interim peace agreement signed earlier this month, which provided a 60-day window for the U.S. and Iran to resolve disputes regarding shipping access, sanctions, and uranium enrichment.
In Kuwait, military officials reported that air defenses successfully intercepted two incoming ballistic missiles on Sunday morning, with no injuries or property damage documented. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed that Iranian strikes damaged a residential building situated near the international airport, though no fatalities were reported. Photos released by the ministry showed an eight-story structure with its top floor severely devastated by the blast.
Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, issued a formal condemnation, describing the strikes as a calculated and systematic violation of its national sovereignty. These attacks followed a weekend of intense military exchanges. U.S. Central Command stated it had targeted Iranian surveillance infrastructure, communication nodes, and drone facilities in retaliation for an earlier attack on the Panamanian-flagged tanker Kiku, which was carrying Qatari crude oil.
Former President Donald Trump addressed the situation on social media, claiming the U.S. struck Iranian storage sites in response to ceasefire violations. He warned that if the provocations continue, the United States might be compelled to complete the job militarily, adding that such a scenario would result in the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which maintains control over Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal, claimed responsibility for the strikes on Kuwait. The organization issued a firm warning that any further breach of the ceasefire would lead to a permanent halt to current diplomatic processes.
