Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed Tuesday it had struck U.S. military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to state media reports.
The IRGC stated it hit two air defense systems and a radar at separate U.S. positions in Bahrain, along with missile defense radars and satellite reception systems in Kuwait. “With this radar sweep, the enemy should prepare for even more decisive and powerful waves of drone and missile attacks,” the group warned in a statement.
The Guards also announced they had intercepted “two non-compliant oil tankers” attempting to transit the “unsafe southern route of the Strait of Hormuz” after explosions ignited fires aboard the vessels. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed receiving reports of a tanker struck by an unknown projectile in the waterway off Oman, forcing the crew to abandon ship. “The crew have abandoned the vessel and are currently embarked in a lifeboat,” UKMTO posted on X.
These incidents follow the U.S. military’s announcement of its tenth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, targeting facilities to degrade Tehran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the strait. “US forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X. “American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait,” the statement added.
Fighting has intensified in recent weeks over control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and natural gas shipments. Traffic through the channel has nearly halted, driving oil prices higher. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 3.2% to $90.95 per barrel, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate climbed 2.8% to $84.04 per barrel.
Despite the escalation, Pakistan—a key mediator in the conflict—appears to be advancing diplomatic efforts. On Monday, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni arrived in Islamabad for talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistani officials, though it remains unclear if the discussions are directly linked to mediation efforts. A day earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaled openness to diplomacy, telling reporters the U.S. is willing to negotiate with Iran but insisting any deal must be “real” and one Tehran is “willing to live by.”
