DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) 鈥� launched a drone assault targeting Bahrain while a ship in the Strait of Hormuz separately came under attack Saturday, in Tehran’s likely response to .
The attacks in the Persian Gulf show the danger of the Iran war again spinning out of control, even after Iran and the U.S. reached
The U.S. had launched airstrikes overnight in response to trying to leave the strait on Thursday, continuing a string of attacks that have shaken the war’s uneasy ceasefire.
Meanwhile, a multinational maritime body overseen by the U.S. Navy said Saturday that it would expand a route near Oman in the strait to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic. That likely sets up a new flashpoint with Tehran, which sees the strait as a key source of leverage in with the U.S.
Bahrain condemns Iran’s drone attack
Bahrain has been one of the strongest critics of Iran and is home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. It just hosted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for , which ended with a call for an end to Iran鈥檚 attacks and for the strait to be completely open.
A statement from Bahrain鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said a 鈥渘umber of Iranian drones鈥� targeted the country. It called the attack 鈥渁 flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.鈥� There were no immediate reports of damage.
Iran鈥檚 paramilitary Revolutionary Guard earlier on Saturday issued a statement carried by the state-run IRNA news agency saying it had targeted several locations 鈥渙f the U.S. terrorist army in the region.鈥� It did not name what areas were targeted.
The U.S. military’s Central Command said the military struck Iranian missile and drone locations and coastal radar sites in the overnight strikes.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who has led the negotiations with Iran, said on social media Friday night that Iran should 鈥減ick up the phone鈥� if there are disagreements about the ceasefire agreement, 鈥渂ut violence will be met with violence.鈥�
The U.S. and Iran are negotiating terms of the deal including issues such as getting ships through the strait that’s vital to global supplies of oil and natural gas and addressing the future of .
Under the interim deal, the two sides have 60 days to work out the details. Ending the between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group is a key part of the deal.
Ship comes under attack as strait route expands
The British military鈥檚 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said that a tanker was attacked Saturday in the strait, with the crew safe and no environmental damage reported. No one immediately claimed the strike, but suspicion fell on Iran.
Just after that report, the Joint Maritime Information Center, overseen by the U.S. Navy, said the route near Oman鈥檚 shore is expanding to allow for inbound and outbound traffic.
Iran has insisted that ships must obey its orders and warned it will start charging fees for transit through the strait. However, ships have been increasingly trying to leave the Gulf in recent days.
Ebrahim Azizi, who heads the Iranian parliament鈥檚 national security commission, wrote Friday that 鈥渢he Strait of Hormuz is governed by Iran, so: Respect the rules.鈥�
The U.S. and Gulf Arab states have rejected Iran鈥檚 demands. The strait is considered as an international waterway, despite being the territorial waters of Iran and Oman.
The Joint Maritime Information Center warned that the threat to ships was 鈥渟ubstantial,鈥� adding that 鈥渕ariners are advised of the existence of mines and should expect a naval presence as clearance operations continue.鈥�
The International Maritime Organization on Friday said it won鈥檛 resume until there are guarantees that the other ships won鈥檛 be attacked. It said about 115 ships have been able to move out of the strait in recent days.
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