US Strikes Iran Over Ship Attacks, Tehran Retaliates Against Bahrain and Kuwait

The United States military launched strikes against Iran early Wednesday after Tehran attacked three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The American operation also revoked a license that had permitted Iran to sell crude oil openly on the international market. Iran responded by targeting installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, escalating fears that a fragile interim ceasefire in the region could collapse.

US Central Command Strikes Iranian Military Infrastructure

American forces acted after Iran struck three ships in the strategic waterway. US Central Command said the strikes were intended to impose consequences for attacking commercial shipping crewed by civilians in an international corridor. The targets included Iranian air defense systems, radar installations, and more than 60 small boats operated by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, vessels that have played a central role in harassing shipping traffic.

The US military described the operation as concluded but emphasized that it remains prepared to hold Iran accountable if the ceasefire agreement is violated. Iran acknowledged the strikes but did not comment on any losses. Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Sirik.

The exchanges occurred during the dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 at the age of 86 during the opening moments of the war. The funeral, set to conclude Thursday, had been viewed as a period of reduced tensions, though mourners repeatedly called for the deaths of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iran Targets US Bases in Bahrain and Kuwait

On Wednesday morning, missile alerts sounded in both Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's 5th Fleet, and Kuwait, where US Army forces are stationed. Bahrain activated its alert system a second time later that morning. Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement acknowledging that it had targeted American military installations in both countries, accusing the US military of violating the ceasefire and what it called the Islamabad understanding by striking coastal bases and civilian stations in Hormozgan and Mahshahr provinces.

The Guard did not address the ship attacks that preceded the American operation. Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, declared on social media that what he termed the era of bullying and extortion was over, adding that Iran would not fold.

A similar sequence of Iranian attacks on shipping and American retaliatory strikes occurred late last month, also drawing Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait. Wednesday's escalation came as President Trump attended a NATO summit in Turkey.

Oil License Revoked and Shipping Under Threat

As part of its response, the United States revoked a license that had authorized the open sale of Iranian crude oil, a provision of the interim deal that had allowed Tehran to sell oil internationally for US dollars for the first time in years. Iran had long been suspected of selling sanctioned crude below market prices to China.

The license revocation followed the attacks on shipping. One tanker traveling off the coast of Oman was hit and caught fire, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center. Iranian state television said the liquefied natural gas tanker was attacked after ignoring warnings, though it did not directly claim responsibility. The two other vessels sustained damage but reported no injuries and continued through the strait.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat was targeted in what he called an unacceptable attack on international navigation and global energy security. Qatar declared that it holds Iran fully legally responsible.

Ceasefire Negotiations at Risk

Iran has maintained a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, disrupting global energy markets. In peacetime, roughly a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the channel. The three ships attacked appeared to be using a route near Oman's shore rather than one designated by Tehran, which has repeatedly declared that only its approved route is safe and is suspected of attacking vessels using the Oman corridor.

Under the interim deal, Iran and the United States agreed to allow ships to pass without charges for 60 days. However, Tehran insisted on controlling vessel routes and eventually collecting fees for passage, a demand that would overturn decades of established practice in the waterway. The United States and several Gulf Arab states have stated they will not accept Iran charging for transit through the strait.

Negotiations for a comprehensive agreement were scheduled to begin after Khamenei's burial and were expected to tackle the most contentious issues, including fully reopening the strait and addressing Tehran's disputed nuclear program. The latest wave of attacks has cast serious doubt on whether those talks will proceed as planned, leaving the Middle East once again on the edge of a broader conflict.

With ceasefire negotiations now in jeopardy and regional tensions climbing, the stakes extend far beyond the Strait of Hormuz. If you found this report informative, please share it with your network and help others stay informed about this rapidly evolving situation.

Source: NPR – World