Iran Expands Attacks to Bahrain and Kuwait Amid US Military Strikes, Raising War Concerns

Following nine consecutive nights of US airstrikes on Iran, Tehran responded on Monday morning by firing towards Bahrain and Kuwait. Explosions were reported in Bahrain's capital, Manama, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced that two oil tankers were disabled after explosions in the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz, a passage Iran claims is unauthorized. The Guards accused the US military of encouraging the tankers to use this route. The UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed one ship was hit near Oman's coast, with its crew safely evacuated, though a fire continues to burn onboard as it drifts at sea.

Simultaneously, Iranian media reported casualties from strikes in Tabriz, alongside additional attacks in Bushehr and Urmia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Washington remains open to diplomatic solutions, but a US official told The Washington Post that the Pentagon is preparing for a broader conflict. The official noted increased deployment of fighter jets and refueling aircraft to the region but warned of limited expansion due to dwindling air defense and long-range munitions supplies, as well as logistical challenges in reinforcing troops. Military experts also doubt the US is ready for a ground invasion of Iran, an option President Donald Trump has not ruled out.

Trump, in a NewsNation interview, expressed indifference to Iran's announcement that it no longer intends to honor a recent memorandum of understanding. Israeli assessments suggest Trump has a window until September to escalate military actions without triggering a prolonged war before the US midterm elections. Israel anticipates intensified fighting if no agreement is reached but is currently waiting for developments that would justify its involvement.

Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the completion of another wave of strikes on Iran, targeting command centers, air defenses, naval monitoring stations, and missile and drone launch sites. Trump dedicated the strikes to three American soldiers recently killed in Jordan and Iraq but remained cautious about the number of casualties after remains suspected to belong to a missing US soldier were found in Jordan.

Despite the escalation, Rubio reiterated US openness to diplomacy. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Bakai, emphasized Tehran's dual approach of pursuing both war and diplomacy based on national interests, rejecting the notion of choosing exclusively between the two. He confirmed ongoing negotiations with US intermediaries over recent days.