Iran strikes Kuwait and Bahrain as U.S.-Iran attacks escalate
10 reported2 unconfirmed
President Donald Trump warned that the United States could be forced to return to war as a series of escalating reciprocal strikes with Iran continued into Sunday, threatening to unravel peace efforts. Bahrain and Kuwait faced fresh Iranian attacks early Sunday, hours after U.S. Central Command said it had hit multiple targets across Iran in response to “continued aggression” against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The series of reciprocal attacks began this week with a disagreement over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran insisted vessels follow a specified route close to its coastline, but many vessels chose to transit through waters of the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran less than two weeks ago stipulates that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, but both sides have repeatedly accused the other of breaching the terms. A professor of international relations at the London School of Economics described the MOU as “vague and ambiguous,” noting the vast gulf between the two countries. U.S. allies in the Gulf, including Qatar and Jordan, condemned Iran’s latest attacks and called for restraint.
What’s reported
President Donald Trump warned the U.S. could be forced to return to war as reciprocal strikes with Iran continued into Sunday.
Bahrain and Kuwait faced fresh Iranian attacks early Sunday.
U.S. Central Command said it had hit multiple targets across Iran in response to “continued aggression” against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM said U.S. fighter jets conducted strikes on 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched further missiles and drones at U.S. military infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Bahrain said a residential building was damaged with no loss of life; Kuwait said two ballistic missiles were intercepted with no damage.
The series of attacks began with a disagreement over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; Iran insisted vessels follow a specified route close to its coastline.
A Singapore-flagged ship was attacked on Thursday, to which the U.S. reciprocated by hitting Iranian military targets.
The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed less than two weeks ago stipulates the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, but both sides accuse each other of breaching terms.
U.S. allies Qatar and Jordan condemned Iran’s attacks and called for restraint.
Open questions
Whether the Strait of Hormuz is currently open or closed is not definitively stated in the article.
The article raises the question of how the U.S. and Iran can resolve larger differences if they cannot manage a 60-day ceasefire.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spokesman Hossein Mohebi
Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics
Sources: NBC News
