TEHRAN (Realist English). The exchange of military strikes between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz has entered its third consecutive day, directly putting Gulf nations — Bahrain and Kuwait — under threat.
The escalation began with an Iranian drone attack on the commercial vessel Ever Lovely on June 25 and by June 28 had evolved into a series of reciprocal strikes, during which Tehran, for the first time since the start of the conflict, launched direct attacks on the territories of two Gulf states hosting US military bases.
Timeline: From the Ship Attack to Strikes on the Gulf
June 25. Iranian forces launched at least four kamikaze drones at ships in the Strait of Hormuz. One of the drones struck the upper deck of the large cargo ship Ever Lovely, sailing under the Singaporean flag. Three other drones were shot down by US forces. No casualties were reported.
June 26. US President Donald Trump called the incident a “stupid violation” of the ceasefire agreement. Hours later, US aircraft carried out the first strikes on Iranian targets.
June 27. The US launched a second series of strikes on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz, including Qeshm Island and the town of Sirik. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed retaliatory strikes against US targets in the region. Iranian state television reported the launch of missiles and drones at US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, and Kuwait put its air defence forces on alert.
June 28. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed strikes on ten Iranian military targets in and near the Strait of Hormuz. The targets included military reconnaissance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence facilities, drone storage sites and mine‑laying vessels. On the same day, an Iranian drone struck the tanker M/T Kiku under the Panamanian flag, carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. Air raid sirens sounded again in Bahrain.
Direct Strikes on Gulf Nations
Iran’s direct strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait were unprecedented. Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait hosts Al‑Salem Air Base, also used by US forces. Iranian state media reported that the strikes were aimed precisely at these facilities.
According to Reuters, US officials have not yet reported casualties or significant damage from the Iranian attacks. Nevertheless, the very fact of strikes on the territories of US allies in NATO and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) constitutes a major escalation.
Reaction from Gulf Nations and International Condemnation
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the Iranian attacks on Bahrain, calling them a violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty. Separate statements of condemnation were issued by Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.
Egypt condemned the attacks “in the strongest terms,” calling them an unacceptable violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. Oman, also a GCC member, expressed full solidarity with Bahrain.
Bahrain stated that the attack undermines peace efforts and violates the kingdom’s sovereignty, reserving “the full right to protect its security and territorial integrity.” In a joint statement, the US and the GCC earlier called for “free, unconditional and unimpeded navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, without fees or “attempts to establish control.”
US Position: Trump Threatens to ‘Finish the Job’
President Donald Trump said the new strikes were a response to Iran’s “repeated violations” of the ceasefire agreement. On Truth Social, he wrote: “It is quite possible that they will never learn! There may come a time when we can no longer be reasonable and will be forced to finish the job militarily. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!”
CENTCOM stated that the strikes were “a direct response to ongoing Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.” The command also stressed: “Iran was given a chance to abide by the ceasefire agreement but chose to reject it.” At the same time, a US official made it clear that the strikes do not yet signal a return to full‑scale hostilities.
Vice President JD Vance warned: “Violence will be met with violence.” At the same time, he called on Iran to resolve disputes by phone rather than through military action.
Iran’s Position: The Right to Control the Strait
Tehran insists that the memorandum gives it the right to control shipping in the strait. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous agreements, parallel routes or decisions that ignore Iran’s role as a coastal state.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the actions of the US and Gulf states “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative.” The IRGC also said that US strikes on five coastal posts in Iran are a violation of the ceasefire and “will lead to a complete halt of all diplomatic processes.”
An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mohsen Rezaei, accused the US of violating the memorandum by supporting proxy forces in the region. The head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, Ebrahim Azizi, warned that any violation of Iran’s navigation instructions would be met with a decisive response.
Impact on Shipping
The Strait of Hormuz remains a high‑risk zone. The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) raised the threat level to “substantial.” The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a projectile hitting a tanker. Despite this, shipping through the strait partially continues.
The US is promoting an expanded route along Oman’s coast as an alternative to passage through Iranian territorial waters. Iran, in turn, insists that the only permitted routes are those announced by Iranian authorities.
The three‑day‑long escalation in the Strait of Hormuz has become the most serious test of the “Islamabad Memorandum” — a framework agreement signed by the US and Iran on June 17.
For the first time since the start of the conflict, Gulf states — Bahrain and Kuwait, where US military bases are located — have come under direct fire. Although both sides are avoiding a full‑scale resumption of hostilities for now, the incident has demonstrated the fragility of the agreements reached.
The coming days will show whether diplomacy can prevent further escalation or whether the Middle East will again slide into all‑out war. As retired US Navy officer Harlan Ullman noted, “the exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran risks spiralling out of control.”