The United States and Iran exchanged attacks targeting each other's military infrastructure over the weekend, signaling an intensification of hostilities that are straining a ceasefire agreement supporting ongoing peace negotiations.
Iranian Strikes on U.S. Bases
On Sunday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missiles and drones at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the Fifth Fleet naval base in Salman Port, Bahrain, according to a statement from the Corps. Kuwait reported intercepting two missiles with no material damage or injuries. Bahrain confirmed a residential building was hit but reported no fatalities.
U.S. Retaliation and Escalation
The tit-for-tat assaults began Thursday when Iran struck a container ship, prompting Washington to retaliate on Friday. The U.S. struck again overnight Saturday after Tehran attacked a vessel carrying Qatari oil. Both sides accused the other of violating the ceasefire. The U.S. military's Central Command stated it hit Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communications systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities, and mine-laying capabilities.
“Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to,” the U.S. Central Command said in a statement posted on X on Saturday. “Commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue. U.S. forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.”
Impact on Peace Talks
The violence has ratcheted up tensions following this month's interim U.S.-Iran peace deal and risks slowing progress toward restoring traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz to prewar levels. Talks over the details of a memorandum of understanding to end the conflict were expected to resume this week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited neighbouring Iraq on Sunday and said he discussed the U.S. accord with officials in Baghdad.
