Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced they struck US military points in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for US strikes on five coastal areas in southern Iran.
A statement from the Revolutionary Guards said eight US military points at the Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain were targeted. The statement warned of "stronger and more determined" retaliation against any new attacks.
The Revolutionary Guards also announced stricter measures against vessels that deviate from Iran-designated routes in the Strait of Hormuz and fail to coordinate with Tehran.
Strong Reaction from Gulf States
Iran's strikes targeting Kuwait and Bahrain drew widespread condemnation from Gulf capitals. Gulf states described the attacks as a clear violation of their sovereignty and security, undermining efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the region must be protected from the "consequences of unjust attacks" and called for continuing dialogue and diplomacy. The statement highlighted the importance of preserving gains achieved under the US-Iran memorandum of understanding for regional and international security.
Alternative Route Tension in the Strait of Hormuz
Meanwhile, Oman's announcement, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization, of establishing a temporary and free maritime corridor in the Strait of Hormuz sparked new tensions with Iran. The Revolutionary Guards Navy stated that "some parties" announced a new route without informing Tehran, emphasizing that safe passage through the strait is only possible via the route determined by Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in Baghdad, "The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's management, and after obstacles are removed, things will return to normal."
Analysts: Iran Trying to Establish New Equations
Dr. Khaled al-Jaber, Director General of the Middle East International Relations Council, said Iran has carried out over 7,400 missile and drone attacks targeting regional countries. Al-Jaber described the latest strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain as "a condemnable, clear violation of state sovereignty and a direct threat to the investment and development system."
Al-Jaber viewed Iran's attempts to disrupt maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as an effort to sabotage the "alternative sea route" initiated by Oman. Accusing Iran of using the strait as "a tool of blackmail," al-Jaber warned that if regional countries' concerns are ignored in Geneva and Swiss negotiations, the region could face "total war and devastating miscalculations."
Dr. Saleh al-Mutairi, head of the Al-Medar Center for Political Studies, expressed that Iran is trying to establish a series of new equations. According to al-Mutairi, the first equation is that the Strait of Hormuz is a card in Iran's hands to be used at will; the second is that any attack on Iran will be answered by striking Gulf countries or closing the strait. Al-Mutairi said this aims to prove Iran as the dominant power in the region.
Al-Mutairi noted that Gulf states have been trying to de-escalate tensions since the first day of the war, highlighting the significant role of Qatar and Pakistan in the memorandum of understanding reached between Tehran and Washington. However, al-Mutairi stated that the fragility of the situation on the ground shows that "behavior on the ground" is the real guarantee of navigation safety, describing Iran's stance as "undisciplined."
Al-Mutairi also alleged that Tehran is exploiting the fifth article of the memorandum concerning safe passage to impose mandatory sea routes and disable international electronic tracking systems. According to him, Iran aims to turn the Strait of Hormuz into a hostage and a political blackmail card it can activate in any nuclear crisis.
It is emphasized that Iran's military seeks to use its control over the Strait of Hormuz not for financial gain but as a strategic deterrent in negotiations with Washington.
Despite the memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran on June 17 and the negotiations aimed at ending the war and ensuring navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, military frictions between the two countries have escalated again in the strait.
