Iran's Revolutionary Guard struck US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait early Sunday, retaliating against American airstrikes on 10 Iranian sites. The barrage of missiles and drones, which came hours after President Donald Trump warned Washington might 'militarily complete the job,' marks the most significant escalation since a shaky interim deal was signed two weeks ago.
Both sides now accuse each other of violating the ceasefire that ended four months of open warfare. Iran has threatened a 'complete halt' to negotiations if the US continues its attacks, according to France 24. The United Nations agency has paused evacuations of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a vessel near Oman.
Beyond the Gulf, Israel said it struck Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon, widening the theater of conflict. US crude oil fell below $70 a barrel, resuming losses after the cargo ship attack, CNBC reported. The strikes have drawn condemnation from Gulf states caught in the crossfire.
The fragile truce now appears on the verge of collapse, with neither side showing appetite for de-escalation. Experts warn that any renewed fighting could disrupt global energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about 20% of the world's oil.
Some analysts argue that Iran's attacks were a carefully calibrated show of force designed to strengthen its negotiating position, not to trigger full-scale war. Yet the rapid deterioration of the two-week-old deal suggests neither capital is prepared to back down.