US-Iran Strikes Test Ceasefire as Missiles Target Gulf Allies

US forces shot down Iranian drones and missiles in the Gulf on Friday before striking radar sites inside Iran, prompting Tehran to fire ballistic missiles at American positions in Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest round of violence testing a months-old truce. The back-and-forth attacks came as indirect talks to end the conflict remain deadlocked over sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian assets.

American Central Command said it intercepted four Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, which it described as a threat to maritime traffic. US strikes then hit coastal surveillance sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. Hours later, Iran launched seven ballistic missiles toward US-linked targets in Kuwait and Bahrain. Centcom reported that six were intercepted and the seventh fell short, with no US casualties confirmed. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missiles targeted bases in retaliation for American attacks on Iranian territory and an oil tanker.

The exchanges follow a pattern of sporadic flare-ups since a ceasefire took hold in April after nearly 100 days of fighting that began with US and Israeli strikes killing senior Iranian leaders. That initial offensive triggered the current war, which has kept the vital Strait of Hormuz largely closed and sent energy prices higher worldwide. Negotiations for a lasting deal have dragged on through mediators, with Iran seeking sanctions waivers and the release of tens of billions in frozen funds while the United States demands the waterway reopen and limits on Tehran’s nuclear activities.

The renewed violence has compounded humanitarian fallout far from the Gulf. The World Food Programme reported this week that millions more people in Somalia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are sliding into hunger because of higher food and fuel costs tied to the conflict. Regional states including Kuwait and Bahrain condemned the Iranian missiles as aggression that endangers civilians and stability.

Even as military tensions rose, Washington confirmed it had issued visas to Iran’s national football team for the upcoming World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. US officials framed the decision as a gesture that sports can cross borders, though critics noted the contrast with ongoing strikes and the broader policy of isolating Tehran.

Analysts say the core obstacle to any interim agreement remains Iran’s insistence on immediate economic relief that the Trump administration views as politically toxic. Past US promises of a tougher deal than the 2015 nuclear accord have yielded little progress, leaving both sides trading accusations while civilians bear the indirect costs of disrupted trade and rising prices. The latest incidents underscore how quickly the uneasy pause can unravel when either side responds to perceived provocations with force.