Iran's army announced it had launched missiles and drones at US military installations across five countries — Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan — in what it described as the 31st phase of its "Lightning" operations, striking satellite-communication systems, equipment depots, and fighter-aircraft hangars at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait and radar systems at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE [2][8][13]. The confirmation came as US Vice President JD Vance stated Washington would not negotiate with Tehran until attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz cease [1][19]. The strikes across five sovereign territories and the closure of the diplomatic track follow six months of direct US-Iran exchanges over the waterway that carries roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied gas shipments.

Iranian military and government officials framed the strikes as proportionate retaliation for US bombardment that killed at least 18 Iranians, including IRGC members, between August 30 and September 2 [17][19]. Iran's military command warned that "American evil in the region will be met with heavier, more widespread, and devastating responses" and that any country cooperating with the US military must accept the consequences [12]. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi rejected assertions that Iran's missile stockpiles were depleted, stating that "Iran's missile capability has remained sustained and its missile production has continued" [9]. First Vice President Muhammed Rıza Arif warned that "ABD ekonomisini karanlık aylar bekliyor" (dark months await the US economy) and urged Americans to stockpile fuel [10]. IRGC head Ahmad Vahidi vowed that the "pure blood of these oppressed martyrs... will not go unanswered" [8].

The United States simultaneously closed the diplomatic track and asserted control over the conflict. President Donald Trump said the US carried out "a very heavy attack" and was "prepared to do another one any time we want," stating that the Strait of Hormuz was under US control and suggesting it be renamed the "Trump Strait" [16][21][29]. Trump stated that Iran's economy had collapsed and that US forces had destroyed 28 Iranian vessels [23][28]. Vance described the conflict as not a war — "right now, there is no active shooting" — and said oil flow through Hormuz was nearly restored to pre-war levels [8]. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington was considering sanctions targeting airlines, the maritime industry, and digital assets [12], while Energy Secretary Chris Wright vowed "absolutely maximum pressure" on Iran's trading partners [5][11].

A central dispute centers on a US missile strike that Iran says hit a wedding party in Kuhestak, in southern Iran's Sirik county. The Iranian Red Crescent reported shrapnel from a missile killed at least four people, including a child, and wounded 67, though some outlets reported the death toll as high as five and the wounded as 50 or 68 [3][4][18][22][25]. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the strike "a war crime" and "a desperate US attempt to hide its defeat" [19][21]. Parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said: "If a power acts like Satan, picks targets like Satan, and kills like Satan, it's Satan" [5][22]. Independent weapons analyst Trevor Ball identified shrapnel at the site as belonging to a US-made Slam-Er missile, a GPS-guided weapon promoted as extremely accurate [22]. CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins stated that "the US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC" [3][12][21], and Vance said he was "extremely sceptical" of Iranian state media accounts while confirming the US military was investigating [18][25].

Gulf states condemned Iran's strikes as violations of their sovereignty. Kuwait's Ministry of Defence called the attacks "blatant Iranian aggression" and its Foreign Ministry described them as "a direct threat to its security and stability" and "a serious violation of international law" [7][9][11][42]. Bahrain and Jordan reported intercepting Iranian air attacks [9][12]. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned Iran's attack on a Saudi-owned tanker, the Sidr, which killed two Filipino crew members, and Iran's strikes on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait [27]. Qatar held Iran responsible for the attacks and their repercussions [12]. The UAE contradicted Iran's claim of a strike on Al Minhad Air Base, reporting no such attack occurred [7].

Despite the closure of the public diplomatic track, back-channel mediation continued. President Masoud Pezeshkian signaled Tehran would return to the June interim understanding if Washington fulfilled its commitments [17][39]. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said negotiations were underway with Oman and Pakistan and that the status quo was unacceptable [40]. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan remained hopeful for US-Iran dialogue, citing progress from the army chief's visit to Tehran [38]. Iran reportedly warned Washington through Oman that a full-scale Israeli offensive on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon would trigger major retaliation, while Hezbollah said any Israeli territorial expansion would breach the Islamabad Agreement; the White House denied the reported warning, calling it "not accurate" [31].

Israel's leadership framed the conflict in existential terms. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said overthrowing Iran's clerical regime was "within reach" [8][19]. Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that an Iranian attack on Israel would lead Israel to "strike all of Iran's national military and civilian infrastructure" and "push Iran deep back into the Stone Age" [8][9]. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Israel had no current plans to join the US-Iran war but would "respond heavily" if attacked [30].

Analysts and international institutions raised concerns about the conflict's duration and risks. Mona Yacoubian of CSIS warned that repeated US strikes risked an enduring low-intensity conflict that could push Iran toward a nuclear weapon [6]. Retired Pakistani lieutenant-general Tariq Khan said the US had "not succeeded in restoring the maritime environment that existed before the war" [16]. The Pentagon was extending troop deployments into 2027 even as Trump publicly predicted a short campaign [15][20]. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said the agency's lack of access to Iran's nuclear sites was "a matter of proliferation concern" [41], while Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said the IAEA could not inspect bombed sites until specific protocols were developed [41]. UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to halt military action and return to dialogue [29][45]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would continue developing ties with Iran regardless of US pressure [32].

Iranian civilians described living under bombardment. Ali Mallahi, whose daughter's wedding was struck, said: "It is a very saddening incident... Thank God the casualties were not higher" [3][22]. A municipal worker in Sirik County identified as Mahmoud said: "Last night was like the end of the world" [12]. A Bandar Abbas resident named Mahpari said: "It's very difficult to live like this. We don't know when America will strike" [12]. Hossein Moazami said he hoped all sides would return to the negotiating table because "the only people suffering from this are the Iranian people" [21]. Members of Kuwait's Iranian community described an extremely difficult period marked by wartime anxiety, though they said they had not been directly harmed [43]. Maritime security consultant Dimitris Maniatis said Iran was selecting vessels based on their ties to the US and allies, arguing the situation was repeating an established pattern rather than worsening [37]. African states were adopting cautious diplomacy, avoiding public criticism of Trump while adjusting supply chains to reduce exposure to Hormuz disruption [46].

The exchanges continued as oil prices climbed above $95 per barrel [25][44], with the Pentagon extending deployments, mediation efforts proceeding through Oman and Pakistan, and both sides trading strikes and threats with no negotiated settlement reached.