A new exchange of fire between the US and Iran in the Gulf is testing the fragile ceasefire
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Iran fired missiles and drones at Bahrain and Kuwait on Saturday, the Bahraini government said, adding that they had been intercepted. It called on Tehran to immediately stop attacks on its Gulf neighbors, which it saw as a “major escalation.”
Bahrain activated air raid sirens and told residents to evacuate to the nearest safe place and follow official instructions.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the US earlier on Saturday attacked patrol facilities on Qeshm Island and Sirik saying they were used to protect borders and “ensure the safety of navigation in international waters.”
Tehran called the attack a violation of the fragile ceasefire agreement.
The latest exchange of fire came as the Trump administration pressed Iran for a deal to end a war that has crippled the global economy and threatened famine in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries.
US President Donald Trump lashed out at four Republican representatives who voted with House Democrats to stop military action against Iran. Trump has faced several challenges of late, including rising poll numbers and challenges to his anti-arms fund.
Iran has said it is targeting American troops
The US military previously said it shot down several Iranian missiles and drones launched near the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab allies, and attacked some of the Islamic Republic’s coastal radar sites in response.
“Aggressive drones pose a threat to maritime traffic,” the US Central Command said on social media. It confirmed that it had hit radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to protect against further attacks.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts US forces in Kuwait, and the US military’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to the IRNA news agency. The US military said there were no reports of injuries to US personnel.
The US military enforced a blockade of Iranian ports in response to Tehran’s interference in a key corridor for the export of oil and natural gas to the world, sending energy prices soaring.
It also caused political problems for the Republican Party of US President Donald Trump before the mid-term congressional elections in November.
US Central Command said it hit radar sites, including an island in the strait, “to protect against further attacks.”
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Trump promises a quick end to the conflict
It was the latest back-and-forth that has complicated a ceasefire in the war – which began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28 – and undermined efforts to reach an agreement to extend that agreement. Earlier this week, Iranian drones heavily damaged Kuwait’s main airport, killing one person, injuring dozens and briefly closing the airport.
Although the attack raised new concerns that it could collapse, Trump told reporters on Friday that “the situation with Iran appears to be going well.”
Trump increasingly appears to be facing a controversy that remains a holding pattern. US and Iranian negotiators reached an indefinite deal last week to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and begin a new round of talks on Iran’s nuclear program. But Trump has called for unspecified changes, and Iranian officials have shown no public signs of signing the deal.
Asked Friday why it was taking so long, Trump told NBC Meet the media that it was because “it is a very difficult thing for them.”
“There are things they never thought they would do that they have to do. They don’t have a choice, and it takes a while,” he said in an interview.
Trump said the Iranians still have 21 to 22 percent of their missiles.
