Iran attacked Bahrain and Kuwait following U.S. strikes on five Iranian sites, heightening tensions and jeopardizing the recently brokered ceasefire between the parties.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the assaults on Sunday, stating that it fired ballistic missiles and drones at the U.S. Al‑Salem air base in Kuwait and the U.S. Fifth Naval Fleet stationed at Port Salman in Bahrain.
Bahrain denounced the attacks as a breach of its sovereignty and a setback for regional de‑escalation and stability, while Kuwait labeled the repeated Iranian aggressions as a blatant violation of its sovereignty.
On Saturday, U.S. forces struck Iran’s Sirik, Bandar‑e Lengeh and Qeshm Island facilities. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its navy and air force hit ten Iranian military targets across several sites near the Strait of Hormuz, describing the operation as a response to a drone attack on the Kiku oil tanker.
The Panama‑flagged vessel was carrying over two million barrels of crude oil when it came under attack while transiting the strait early Saturday.
Britain’s UKMTO maritime security agency reported that the tanker sustained bridge damage on Saturday, but all crew members were reported safe.
Strait of Hormuz
The weekend assaults followed a U.S. strike on Iran on Friday, which was launched in retaliation for drone attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Singapore‑registered Ever Lovely container ship was struck by a drone on Thursday, though no injuries occurred. In response, the United States targeted sites near Sirik, and Iran retaliated by attacking U.S. military positions in the area.
Iran asserted that vessels must use its designated channel and warned that any ship employing an alternative route would be breaching the ceasefire agreement.
The International Maritime Organization halted its evacuation plan for ships trapped in the strait on Thursday following the attack on the Ever Lovely.
President Donald Trump stated on Saturday evening that Tehran had violated the ceasefire agreement signed on June 17.
Trump warned that if the situation becomes unreasonable, the United States may be compelled to finish the military operation it has already begun, adding that Iran would cease to exist.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. strikes on its southern‑coast monitoring and surveillance installations, asserting that the attacks breach both the Memorandum of Understanding and the United Nations Charter.
The ministry added that the attacks demonstrate the United States’ disregard for its commitments and reaffirmed Iran’s resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against U.S. military aggression.
Speaking in Iraq on Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iran’s full control for the next 30 days, and once obstacles are removed, the waterway’s full capacity will be restored.
He warned that any new developments would worsen the situation, delay reopening of the strait, and heighten escalation, urging all parties to fulfill their obligations under the MoU, lest the agreement be derailed.
Agreement under strain
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and Iran extended a ceasefire that began with U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, granting both parties a 60‑day window to negotiate an end to hostilities.
Control of the Strait of Hormuz is a central element of the MoU. While the war was underway, Iran blockaded the waterway—through which roughly 20 % of global oil transits—triggering a worldwide energy crisis.
Article 5 of the MoU requires Iran to use its best efforts to ensure safe passage for commercial vessels through the strait over the 60‑day period, and stipulates that Iran, Oman, and other Gulf states will deliberate on the future administration of the waterway.
Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai told Al Jazeera that, although neither the United States nor Iran seeks a broader escalation, the situation carries the risk of unintended escalation.
He warned that attacks on residential areas, increased civilian casualties in the Arab Gulf states, or a severe strike on a U.S. base that results in American fatalities could quickly spiral out of control.