Iran Retaliates, Threatens Talks
Iran Attacks Bahrain and Kuwait After US Strikes, Threatens to Halt Ongoing Talks
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a massive barrage of drones and missiles at U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain on June 28, 2026, just nine days after a ceasefire was signed. The IRGC claimed it "destroyed eight important U.S. military facilities" and warned that American bases in the region "will experience hell in the coming days," according to AP.
Iran is now threatening a "complete halt" to peace negotiations if U.S. strikes continue. The move puts a critical diplomatic meeting in Qatar at serious risk and threatens to unravel a 14-point peace deal signed just weeks ago.
A Ceasefire Unravels in Less Than Two Weeks
The crisis started on June 27, when an Iranian drone struck the *Kiku*, a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying 2 million barrels of crude near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump responded the same evening, ordering U.S. Navy and Air Force jets to hit 10 Iranian military targets, including drone storage facilities and communication systems, according to AP.
Iran fired back the next morning. The IRGC targeted Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. Bahrain's King Hamad condemned the strikes as a "flagrant threat to the security of citizens," according to AP. Trump warned on Truth Social that if strikes continue, "the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist."
The Strait of Hormuz Is the Real Prize
The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil chokepoint. About 20 million barrels of oil and 20% of global liquefied natural gas pass through it every day. Iran has kept it effectively closed since March 2026, when the conflict began with "Operation Epic Fury" on February 28. That closure has already squeezed global energy markets hard.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any plan to manage Strait traffic without Iran's approval "will only lead to further complications." Brent crude prices jumped nearly 3% immediately after the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, according to AP. Oil had already surged past $120 per barrel during the worst of the fighting in March.
A Fragile Deal Now Hanging by a Thread
The U.S. and Iran signed a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding on June 19 in Versailles and Switzerland. It gave both sides 60 days to negotiate a permanent peace. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the U.S. side. But the deal has never had firm public backing — only 32% of Americans support it, and 60% believe the original military action was "not worth it," according to AP.
Experts warned the deal was fragile from the start. Former Ambassador Hossein Mousavian called it a "golden opportunity" but said it fails to address the deeper Iran-Israel rivalry. Senator Lindsey Graham doubted the agreement would hold. Senator Jackie Rosen called it "weak," arguing that giving relief to the "world's leading state sponsor of terrorism" makes America less safe.
Global Supply Chains Feel the Pressure
The renewed fighting has stalled efforts to open a safe shipping lane near Oman. Analysts warn the global oil market could take "months to normalize" even after a final ceasefire is reached. Countries like India are already hurting. Fuel and fertilizer shortages tied to the March Strait closure have cut household incomes and GDP growth, according to AP.
The U.S. recently approved a $1.98 billion arms sale to Kuwait to strengthen its air defenses. The Gulf Cooperation Council called Iran's attacks a "deliberate approach and systematic pattern of aggression." If the Qatar talks collapse, the 60-day negotiating window closes — and no permanent peace deal exists to replace it, according to AP.
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