Iran and the US escalate in the Persian Gulf over a night of tensions: Iranian airstrikes on Qeshm Island, missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain.

A new escalation erupted on the night of June 3, 2026, between Iran and the United States in the Persian Gulf, while negotiations for a regional de-escalation remain stalled. Washington and Tehran accuse each other of renewed military action, in one of the most serious exchanges since the ceasefire went into effect last April. The situation remains extremely volatile, with conflicting versions, military claims, and widespread alarm among several countries in the region.

Tehran's claims

The Iranian military has claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes against American military targets in the region, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. According to Tehran, the operation was a response to US strikes on the Iranian island of Qeshm, in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic area for global energy traffic and at the center of tensions between the two sides for weeks.

Missiles against Kuwait, Terminal 1 hit

The IRGC also claimed responsibility for the launch of at least ten ballistic missiles against Kuwait, calling the operation an "initial response" and warning that any further American action will be followed by a "different and more severe" retaliation. According to the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry, the attack hit Terminal 1 of the international airport, resulting in one death and several injuries. Kuwaiti authorities condemned Iran's repeated attacks on the country's civilian and strategic infrastructure.

Kuwait's condemnation

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry denounced what it called "brutal and continuous attacks" on X using ballistic missiles and drones, claiming that diplomatic missions and vital facilities had also been hit. Kuwait asserted its "full and intrinsic right" to respond to "repeated Iranian aggression," while local authorities tightened security measures following the damage to the airport and the temporary suspension of airport operations.

The American version of the attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

According to US Central Command, hostilities began when US forces fired a Hellfire missile at a Botswana-flagged oil tanker headed for Iran's Kharg oil terminal. Washington claims the vessel violated the blockade imposed on Iranian ports and was "neutralized" after repeated warnings. Tehran, for its part, accused the United States of committing a hostile act in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's response to the Panaya ship

In response to the attack on the tanker, Iran launched missiles at the Liberian-flagged merchant ship Panaya. Tehran warned that any threat to the security of the Strait of Hormuz would come at a "high price" for American forces. The maritime passage remains one of the most sensitive points of the crisis, as a significant portion of global energy trade passes through that area, and any new tension risks immediate repercussions on international markets.

US raid on Qeshm Island

The most significant escalation came after the United States conducted what the Pentagon called a "self-defense" strike against a military ground control station on the Iranian island of Qeshm. Centcom claims the operation was carried out in response to attempted attacks attributed to Iran in several areas of the Middle East. Tehran rejects this narrative and accuses Washington of violating the ceasefire, fueling a new round of retaliation.

Reports from Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Iranian media also reported explosions heard in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, and the activation of alarm sirens in Saudi Arabia. There is currently no independent confirmation of these reports, but they contribute to a snapshot of an increasingly fragile regional context. Tensions extend beyond the direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran, involving Gulf countries, sea routes, military bases, and strategic infrastructure.

Negotiations still hanging by a thread

The new tensions come at a particularly delicate time on the diplomatic front. Following recent rumors of a suspension of talks between Tehran and Washington, several Iranian media outlets now claim negotiations are still ongoing. US President Donald Trump, speaking to ABC News, also stated that he believes an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire with Iran is possible "within the next week."

Tensions also exist between Trump and Netanyahu

Signs of rising tension are emerging on the Israeli-American front. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that operations in southern Lebanon will continue "as planned," just hours after Trump assured that Israeli forces would not advance on Beirut. According to several sources, a recent phone call between the two leaders was particularly tense, confirming the difficulties of coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv at a time when the Iranian crisis is intertwined with the conflict in Lebanon.

The risk of a wider regional crisis

The renewed exchange of accusations and attacks confirms the risk of the crisis spreading throughout the Persian Gulf. The combination of military strikes, threats of retaliation, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and uncertainty surrounding negotiations makes the situation particularly volatile. The stability of the ceasefire and the security of the Strait of Hormuz remain the two key issues: their breakdown could affect not only the regional balance, but also the stability of international energy flows.