Strait of Hormuz tensions rise as Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait after US airstrikes

Iran launched fresh drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday. The attacks followed new US airstrikes on Iran. Tehran also warned it could stop talks on an interim deal. Iran said negotiations would collapse if Washington kept attacking Iranian targets.

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The Revolutionary Guard said it carried out the strikes in Bahrain and Kuwait. Kuwait said air defences stopped Iranian drones and two missiles. The intercepts came just after US strikes in Iran. Kuwait reported no injuries and no damage from the attempted attacks.

Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes

Bahrain said the Iranian strikes damaged a residential building near the international airport. Bahrain reported no deaths from the attack. Bahrain hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. Officials said the damaged building was not close to the fleet’s headquarters.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry criticised what it described as a wider pattern. "a dangerous escalation that reveals that what Tehran is doing is not a passing act, nor an isolated incident, but rather a deliberate approach and a systematic pattern of repeated aggression.\"

Later on Sunday, Qatar said shrapnel linked to military activity killed one civilian. Qatar said another person was hurt. The incident followed a vessel not returning at its scheduled time on Saturday. Qatar did not provide further details in its statement.

Strait of Hormuz dispute and US Navy route plan

Fighting has also centred on the Strait of Hormuz in recent days. A US Navy overseen maritime body said Saturday it would widen a route near Oman. The plan covered inbound and outbound movements. Iran described efforts to reopen the strait without Iran’s control as a trigger for crossfire.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi repeated on Sunday that Iran must control the strait. \"Any attempt to establish new or separate arrangements from those currently being carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only lead to further complications, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and increase the level of tension,\" Araghchi said.

The Strait of Hormuz is seen globally as an international waterway. It sits within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. Iran has attacked ships twice in recent days on the Omani side. Those incidents happened during a United Nations-backed evacuation effort, according to the report.

The same maritime body said traffic rose over the past 72 hours. It cited movement off both Iran and Oman despite a high-risk setting. It said US-assisted commercial transits continued without disruption. The body reported 89 transits, below the historical average of 138 vessels daily.

Iran-US interim deal talks and ceasefire dispute

The United States and Iran have been discussing an interim deal with several parts. The talks include the strait, a US blockade on Iranian ports, sanctions, and enriched uranium stockpiles. A memorandum of understanding signed this month set a 60-day window. Pakistan earlier said talks would resume Tuesday.

US Central Command said it struck Iranian military sites after an attack at sea Saturday. It said targets included surveillance infrastructure and communications systems. It also cited air defences, drone storage sites, and minelayer capabilities. The exchanges began after an Iranian drone hit a merchant vessel off Oman on Thursday.

The Panamanian-flagged tanker Kiku carried crude for Qatar’s state-run energy company. Qatar has served as a key mediator between Iran and the US. US President Donald Trump accused Iran online of breaking the ceasefire. \"If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!\" Trump wrote.

Lebanon conflict and Hezbollah risk to interim deal

The interim deal aims to stop fighting on all fronts before harder issues are addressed. Continued clashes in Lebanon have raised concerns about the agreement. An Israeli soldier was killed by Hezbollah fire early Sunday. The death added pressure on efforts to keep the wider arrangement on track.

Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement last week to end recent fighting. The violence began two days after the Iran war started. Hezbollah fired at Israel, and Israel later invaded southern Lebanon. Israel said it would stay until Hezbollah disarmed, while Hezbollah criticised the deal and rejected disarmament calls.

On Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister said the US must push Israel to stop attacks and withdraw. Israel occupies about 600 square kilometres in southern Lebanon. Israel said it needs the area as a security buffer. Hezbollah’s leader said Saturday the group would fight until Israel leaves Lebanon.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf called for a new conflict control unit to meet soon. Iran’s state broadcaster reported the unit would include Iran, the US, and Lebanon. Israeli strikes in Lebanon have reduced since the Iran-US deal. Still, two strikes hit southern Lebanon on Sunday, and an Israeli soldier died in Deir Siryan.

With inputs from PTI