Iran Retaliates After US Strikes, Targets Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in Regional Escalation
US President Donald Trump said Iran would “pay the price” after Tehran claimed responsibility for attacks on US forces in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched drone and missile attacks on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and an airbase in Azraq, Jordan, describing the strikes as a response to American military action against Qeshm Island and ports along Iran’s coast.
Authorities in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan said all incoming projectiles were intercepted and there were no casualties. Iran said it had hit 21 US targets and destroyed four, including an F-35 fighter jet hangar in Jordan. The IRGC warned it was ready for a “crushing and decisive” response to any further US military moves and said Washington would be responsible for the consequences of escalation.
The exchange marked the latest surge in tensions after the US military struck Iranian positions following accusations that Iran had downed an American Apache helicopter on Tuesday. Trump accused Tehran of delaying a deal to end the war and said on social media that Iran had taken too long to negotiate. A day earlier, he had suggested the two sides were only days away from an agreement.
Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said Iranian officials appeared unmoved by Trump’s threats and viewed their retaliation as proof of strength. They said Tehran remains deeply skeptical of prolonged diplomacy while it believes the current atmosphere of mistrust continues.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said a Qatari delegation was in Tehran holding talks with Iranian officials on the latest regional developments and diplomatic efforts to end the war. Al Jazeera reported that Qatar is acting as a mediator and is pushing for a peaceful resolution, while Gulf states see the Iranian attacks as violations of their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute said Iran’s rapid response suggested a new doctrine: any US attack would be met with a quick and proportionate but severe retaliation. He said Tehran wants to prevent a precedent in which Washington can strike Iran without facing consequences.
The broader conflict has intensified over the past several days, including a separate exchange of fire between Iran and Israel, and comes amid Israel’s escalating campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah. The war has shaken the global economy and driven up fuel and food prices. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera said neither side appears to want a return to full-scale war, but both are still weighing whether to continue military action or return to negotiations.
