Iran Strikes Bahrain and Kuwait As Trump Warns 'Regime Will End'

Iran Strikes Bahrain and Kuwait As Trump Warns 'Regime Will End'

Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday following a new wave of U.S. airstrikes, dramatically escalating tensions in the Gulf and threatening to suspend peace negotiations if Washington continues military action.

The latest exchange comes just days after the United States and Iran signed a fragile memorandum aimed at ending months of conflict, with renewed fighting now placing the entire agreement in jeopardy.

Iran Expands Attacks Across The Gulf

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for strikes targeting infrastructure in Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which host major American military facilities.

Kuwaiti authorities said their air defence systems intercepted several Iranian drones and two missiles shortly after U.S. forces carried out fresh strikes inside Iran. Officials reported no casualties or significant damage.

Bahrain confirmed that a residential building near its international airport was damaged during the attack. Although the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain, the headquarters were not hit.

Bahrain condemned the assault as a deliberate escalation, accusing Tehran of pursuing a "systematic pattern of repeated aggression."

Meanwhile, Qatar confirmed one civilian had been killed and another injured by falling shrapnel linked to the regional military operations after a commercial vessel failed to return on schedule.

Hormuz Dispute Threatens Peace Deal

At the centre of the renewed crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway through which around 20 percent of the world's oil and natural gas supplies normally pass.

Iran insists it alone must oversee navigation through the strait and has strongly opposed international efforts to establish alternative shipping arrangements.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that attempts to bypass Iranian control would only delay the reopening of the waterway and further inflame regional tensions.

"Any attempt to establish new or separate arrangements... will only lead to further complications, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and increase the level of tension," he said.

Iran has already attacked several commercial vessels travelling along routes close to Oman rather than through waters favoured by Tehran.

Trump Threatens Iran's Survival

The latest confrontation follows American strikes against Iranian military facilities after an Iranian drone attack on a commercial tanker operating near Oman.

The U.S. military said it targeted Iranian surveillance systems, communications infrastructure, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and naval mine-laying capabilities.

President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement and issued one of his strongest warnings yet.

"If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" Trump declared in a social media post, warning that further violations could trigger an overwhelming American military response.

Negotiations Hanging By A Thread

Despite the renewed fighting, Pakistan, which has acted as a key intermediary, says negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain scheduled to resume on Tuesday.

The Trump administration insists technical talks have not been cancelled.

Negotiators are attempting to resolve several major disputes, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting U.S. sanctions and port restrictions, and determining the future of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

However, Tehran has warned that continued American attacks could force a "complete halt" to negotiations.

Shipping Continues Under Heavy Guard

The multinational maritime task force coordinated by the U.S. Navy said commercial shipping through the Gulf has continued despite the escalating violence.

Around 89 vessels successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz during the past three days under naval protection—well below the historical daily average of 138 ships—but officials said escorted commercial traffic continues to move safely despite what they described as an "elevated threat environment."

SOURCE