Iran Widens Gulf Strikes After Fresh U.S. Attacks
DUBAI-Iran launched missile and drone attacks against Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, expanding the regional conflict only hours after the United States carried out a third round of airstrikes on Iranian targets in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Explosions were heard over Qatar’s capital, Doha, where missile interceptions illuminated the night sky, according to AFP journalists cited in the source material. Qatari residents received emergency alerts on their mobile phones instructing them to remain indoors as authorities responded to the attack.
Missile warning sirens also sounded across Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The United Arab Emirates likewise warned of incoming missile and drone threats, although authorities did not immediately identify the locations targeted or report casualties.
The latest exchange marked another escalation in a conflict centered on the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. U.S. President Donald Trump said an interim ceasefire with Iran was “over” while maintaining that Washington remained prepared to pursue negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent settlement.
U.S. Central Command said it launched fresh strikes against Iranian targets on Trump’s orders after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. military, the vessel sustained significant engine-room damage and one civilian crew member was reported missing.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said several vessels had failed to follow what it described as approved navigation routes through the waterway. The force said one vessel was struck by what it called a “warning shot” and compelled to stop.
Tehran also announced that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until further notice and warned it could target additional U.S. military facilities across the region if further attacks were launched against Iran.
Washington rejected Iran’s assertion of exclusive control over the strait and demanded that Tehran publicly guarantee freedom of navigation while ending attacks on commercial shipping before broader negotiations could move forward.
U.S. officials also said unrestricted maritime traffic through the waterway was a prerequisite for any future agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program and regional security. They added that any nuclear deal would require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, said this week that all activity in the Strait of Hormuz, including reopening the shipping lane or carrying out demining operations, rested exclusively with Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of globally traded oil and natural gas, making it one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Restrictions imposed during the conflict triggered a sharp energy market shock before oil prices retreated from wartime highs.
Sunday’s attacks followed earlier Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Kuwait said it intercepted four missiles and 10 drones, while Jordan’s military reported shooting down eight missiles fired toward its territory. Bahrain also activated its air defenses after detecting incoming projectiles.
Iran said those earlier attacks were directed at U.S. military installations in the three countries and warned that other American bases across the region would remain vulnerable if Washington continued military operations.
The latest strikes prompted renewed condemnation from Gulf and Arab governments. Saudi Arabia denounced what it described as repeated Iranian violations of neighboring states’ sovereignty and warned that the attacks threatened regional security and undermined international efforts to restore stability.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt also condemned the attacks while renewing calls for restraint. Gulf leaders intensified diplomatic contacts aimed at reviving negotiations.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani held separate discussions with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, urging all sides to return to diplomacy and implement earlier understandings intended to halt the conflict.
At the United Nations on Friday, Bahrain accused Iran of using diplomacy to gain time while continuing military operations across the region. Addressing the Security Council, Bahrain’s ambassador Jamal Al-Rowaiei said Tehran had repeatedly violated international agreements, including the Islamabad Memorandum signed in June and previous U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for an end to attacks against regional states.
The latest military exchanges further complicated mediation efforts led by Qatar, Oman and Pakistan to restore the ceasefire and resume negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, maritime security and broader regional stability.
