By The South Asia Times

DUBAI/WASHINGTON -  Iran said Wednesday it launched missiles and drones against US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, claiming the strikes were retaliation for fresh American military operations targeting Iranian military assets following attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Reuters report.

The exchange marks one of the most serious escalations since a US-Iran ceasefire was brokered last month and threatens to derail ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a longer-term agreement between the two countries.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out coordinated missile and drone attacks against what it described as key US military installations, including the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The IRGC also claimed it had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone that it said was attempting to monitor or interfere with the operation.

Authorities in Bahrain and Kuwait activated air raid sirens as air defense systems responded to what Kuwait's military described as "hostile" missile and drone attacks. There was no immediate confirmation from the U.S. military regarding Iranian claims or any reported damage.

The Iranian strikes came hours after the United States launched a new wave of military attacks against Iranian targets. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation targeted more than 60 boats belonging to the Revolutionary Guards, along with air-defense systems, coastal surveillance installations, anti-ship cruise missiles, surface-to-air missile batteries and drone launch sites.

Reuters reported that US officials said the strikes were intended to impose high costs on Iran following attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire by threatening international shipping and said freedom of navigation must be protected.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended Washington's military response, saying the strikes were justified if Iran had breached the ceasefire agreement.

The country's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates Iran's armed forces, condemned the US attacks as a "blatant act of aggression" and warned of what it called a "crushing response." Iranian officials also reiterated that Tehran would not tolerate foreign interference in the management of the Strait of Hormuz.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, a senior Iranian negotiator, accused Washington of undermining the ceasefire by combining military strikes with renewed economic pressure, including the revocation of a US license that had temporarily allowed Iran to sell oil on international markets.

"The era of bullying and extortion is over," Qalibaf wrote on social media, according to Reuters.

Explosions were also reported in several locations across southern Iran, including Kharg Island, the country's principal crude oil export terminal, as well as Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island and Sirik. Iranian state media reported that several civilians were injured when debris struck a commercial pier in Sirik, although no fatalities were immediately confirmed.

The latest military escalation comes amid renewed tensions over security in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important energy corridors through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

The United States also announced it had revoked a temporary sanctions waiver that had allowed Iranian crude oil exports under an interim understanding reached last month. The decision prompted oil prices to rise by more than 3%, reflecting renewed concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies, Reuters reported.

Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned Washington's decision, calling it a violation of the ceasefire framework and warning that Tehran would take "any measure necessary" to protect its national interests.

The renewed confrontation follows attacks on multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Qatar has publicly blamed Iran for the incidents, including an attack on a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker that reportedly caught fire after being struck by a drone. Iran has denied responsibility, while cautioning that ships using routes not coordinated with Iranian authorities could face security risks.

According to Reuters, US officials believe Iranian forces fired on three commercial vessels, although investigations into the incidents remain ongoing.

The latest developments underscore the fragility of the ceasefire reached after last month's conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. That agreement was intended to provide a 60-day window for negotiations on a broader settlement, but indirect talks held in Qatar last week ended without a breakthrough.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that the United States could resume military action if negotiations fail, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has insisted that meaningful talks cannot proceed under continued military or economic pressure.

As both sides exchange military strikes and diplomatic accusations, international concern is growing that the Gulf region could slide back into a broader conflict with significant implications for global energy markets and regional security.