US strikes Iran after ship attacks as Tehran targets Bahrain and Kuwait

The United States military launched strikes against Iran early Wednesday after accusing Tehran of attacking three ships in the Strait of Hormuz escalating tensions in the region Iran responded by targeting Bahrain and Kuwait raising concerns over the stability of a fragile interim agreement aimed at preventing further conflictThe latest exchange has increased fears that the ceasefire arrangement could come under pressure although both sides have not indicated an immediate withdrawal from negotiationsThe attacks took place during funeral events for Iranrsquos Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed on February 28 during the initial phase of the conflict at the age of 86 The funeral ceremonies which are scheduled to conclude Thursday had earlier been viewed as a period when tensions could easeNegotiations on a final agreement were expected to begin after Khameneirsquos burial focusing on key issues such as reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing concerns over Iranrsquos nuclear programme However the latest escalation has created uncertainty over the talksThe era of bullying and extortion is over Irans Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on X It leads nowhere We dont foldUS says strikes targeted Iranian military assetsThe US militaryrsquos Central Command said American forces carried out the strikes in response to attacks on commercial vessels operating in international watersThe US militarys Central Command said American forces launched the strikes to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterwayAccording to US officials the strikes targeted Iranian air defence systems radar facilities and more than 60 small boats operated by Iranrsquos paramilitary Revolutionary Guard The vessels have reportedly been used in previous confrontations involving ships in the Strait of HormuzThe US military said it remains postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed adding that the latest round of strikes had concludedIran confirmed that strikes had taken place but did not provide details about casualties or damage Iranian state media reported explosions in Bandar Abbas Qeshm and SirikBahrain and Kuwait report missile alertsFollowing the US strikes Bahrain and Kuwait issued missile alerts on Wednesday morning Bahrain hosts the US Navyrsquos 5th Fleet while Kuwait hosts US Army forcesIranrsquos Revolutionary Guard acknowledged targeting US military installations in both countriesThe childkilling and terrorist US army openly violated the ceasefire and violated the Islamabad understanding by launching an airstrike on a number of coastal bases and civilian stations on the coasts of Hormozgan and Mahshahr provinces it said without commenting on the attacks on ships in the Strait of HormuzBahrain issued another alert later in the day as regional tensions remained highUS restricts Iranrsquos ability to sell oil globallyAlong with the military response the United States revoked a license that had allowed Iran to openly sell crude oil in the international market under the interim agreementThe move came after attacks on three ships near the Strait of Hormuz One tanker was hit and caught fire near the coast of Oman according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre Two other ships sustained damage but continued their journeys with no injuries reportedThe Strait of Hormuz remains one of the worldrsquos most important energy routes with a major share of global oil and natural gas shipments passing through the waterwayIran has maintained restrictions over the strait since the conflict began and has insisted that vessels use approved routesFuneral ceremonies continue for Iranrsquos former Supreme LeaderFuneral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continued in Iraqrsquos Najaf city on Wednesday with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials from Iran and Iraq attendingAdditional funeral prayers are expected to be held at the Imam Hussein shrine in Karbala before Khameneirsquos burial in Mashhad IranHis son and Iranrsquos new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not yet appeared publicly during the ceremonies Reports suggest he was injured in the strike that killed his fatherWith inputs from Associated Press