The United States and Iran have once again engaged in reciprocal military strikes. Explosions were reported on Iran's Qeshm Island in the early hours of June 3. Subsequently, the U.S. Central Command claimed that U.S. forces conducted a "self-defense" airstrike that day on an Iranian military ground control station located on the island. Iran stated that in response to the U.S. attack, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted U.S. military bases in the Middle East, specifically the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. The conflict has also impacted multiple Middle Eastern nations, with Kuwait International Airport sustaining damage. Countries including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain have temporarily closed airports and airspace.
Early on the 3rd, Iranian media, citing local residents, reported explosions heard on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after, Kuwait activated nationwide air raid sirens, with its military stating it was intercepting incoming "hostile" missiles and drones; alarms were also heard in the skies over Bahrain. Approximately two hours later, U.S. Central Command stated that Iran had launched attacks across the Middle East, firing multiple ballistic missiles towards neighboring countries, but all missiles failed to hit their marks. Two missiles aimed at Kuwait did not reach the target area, potentially disintegrating in flight. Three missiles targeting Bahrain were intercepted by U.S. and Bahraini air defenses. The U.S. military also claimed to have shot down three one-way attack drones launched by Iran, stating their targets were civilian vessels and crew transiting regional waters. The U.S. emphasized there were no American casualties in any of the attacks.
Almost simultaneously, Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a statement claiming that late on the 2nd, U.S. forces attacked an Iran-linked oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, the IRGC Navy fired missiles at a vessel belonging to U.S. and Israeli "hostile forces," after which the U.S. conducted an airstrike on an IRGC communications station on Qeshm Island. In response, the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters and a U.S. air base in an unspecified Middle Eastern country with missiles and drones.
The U.S. Central Command later denied that the Fifth Fleet headquarters or any U.S. air base in the region was hit by Iranian missiles or drones, asserting that all Iranian attacks against U.S. forces had failed. Kuwait's Foreign Ministry stated on the 3rd that Kuwait International Airport and other civilian facilities were attacked by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones that day, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. It condemned the attacks as targeting Kuwait's critical civilian infrastructure, causing damage including to diplomatic compounds, and stated that Iran's continued assaults would further escalate regional tensions and threaten the security and stability of Kuwait and the Gulf region. Kuwait's Defense Ministry indicated that the airport's Terminal 1 was attacked, suffering severe structural damage, leading authorities to temporarily suspend air traffic and close airspace. Kuwait's health authorities reported 63 injuries from Iran's attacks on Kuwait that day. Social media circulated videos showing the airport under attack at night, with explosions producing large flames and smoke. Kuwait International Airport had previously closed due to escalating tensions with Iran, reopening only on the 1st of this month, and is now temporarily closed again due to the renewed conflict. Besides Kuwait, parts of airports in Bahrain and the UAE were also temporarily closed due to the conflict.
Iran's Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 3rd strongly condemning the U.S. attack on the Qeshm Island communications station, stating these acts of aggression not only violate ceasefire agreements but also seriously breach the UN Charter. It further asserted that Kuwait and Bahrain bear responsibility for the U.S. military's use of their territories and facilities to attack Iran. Senior Iranian military advisor Yahya Rahim Safavi warned on social media: "The response to any act of firing and aggression will be a barrage of missiles and drones."
The U.S. Central Command stated on social media on the 2nd that a U.S. aircraft fired a missile at an empty oil tanker attempting to sail to an Iranian port in the Persian Gulf, disabling it. U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 3rd that the maritime blockade of Iran might continue until September. The targeted vessel was the Botswana-flagged oil tanker LEXIE, which was transiting international waters towards Iran's Kharg Island. The U.S. military claimed the ship's crew ignored repeated warnings and refused to comply with U.S. instructions. Ultimately, a U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the tanker's engine room, disabling it and preventing its arrival in Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, since the blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports began on April 13, the U.S. has disabled six merchant vessels and forcibly diverted 122 ships.
In an interview aired on the 3rd, Trump stated the U.S. maritime blockade of Iran might last until Labor Day, September 7th. He said, "I don't know. I mean, I think it could go until Labor Day, but I doubt it. I think we'll get a deal. I think this will be resolved quickly." He described U.S.-Iran negotiations as "moving quickly," adding, "We're not going to let them have a nuclear weapon, and a lot of other good things are going to happen," and expressed hope for a meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The previous day, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social, calling recent media reports that U.S.-Iran dialogue stopped days ago "false and wrong," emphasizing that communication continues and urging Iran to quickly reach an agreement on the nuclear issue.
Affected by the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict and deteriorating security in the Strait of Hormuz, Danish shipping giant Maersk has suspended its vessels from transiting the strait and activated emergency transport plans, moving goods overland. The group's Chief Commercial Officer, Karsten Kildahl, stated that while this helps ensure the safety of employees and crew, it also creates significant economic pressure on operations. As one of the world's largest container shipping companies, Maersk's challenges reflect the pressures currently facing international trade and global supply chains. Kildahl noted that not only have direct transport costs to and from the Gulf region increased, but costs on other routes have also risen significantly due to factors like higher fuel prices. These additional costs currently exceed $500 million per month, which the group cannot bear alone, forcing it to pass some costs onto customers, many of whom are also facing rising raw material prices. Industry insiders believe increased transport and production costs may eventually be passed on to consumers. Kildahl added that not only transport costs but also raw material costs for various productions are rising, stating, "So what I hear from customers is that they are under significant cost pressure. To what extent these increased costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers, I cannot give a clear judgment, but I believe many people will have strong opinions on this." Global supply chains have been under strain in recent years. Faced with recurring geopolitical risks, shipping companies are continuously adjusting transport networks to enhance supply chain resilience. Despite the challenges, Maersk believes global trade will not stagnate, and the flow of goods will continue through the coordinated operation of sea, rail, and road transport.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, appearing before Senate Foreign Relations and House Appropriations committees on the 2nd, confirmed that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and increasingly active, but expressed uncertainty about when a U.S.-Iran agreement might be reached. This was Rubio's first congressional testimony since the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February. Khamenei's father, Ali Khamenei, died on February 28th, the first day of the large-scale U.S.-Israel airstrikes, and Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously injured. Since succeeding as Supreme Leader, he has not made any public appearances. Rubio stated at the hearing, "There are indications that he [Mojtaba Khamenei] is becoming more involved in public affairs in some way."
When asked about the progress of U.S.-Iran negotiations, Rubio said talks are ongoing but he could not determine when an agreement might be reached. Since the temporary ceasefire on April 8th, both sides have continued consultations on ending the war, but no breakthrough has been achieved. Rubio pointed out that Iran has agreed to negotiate on some aspects of its nuclear program, stating, "A month ago, even a year ago, they wouldn't even talk about it." However, he said this does not guarantee a final agreement acceptable to Congress. Rubio emphasized that Iran must agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. would help clear planted mines, adding, "They also won't fire on vessels." Rubio also stated the U.S. has not proposed lifting sanctions on Iran or allowing Iran to access frozen funds in exchange for reopening the strait. Any sanctions relief must be conditional, predicated on resolving the underlying issue that led to the sanctions: Iran's nuclear program. Regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for the Israeli military to control 70% of the Gaza Strip, Rubio stressed this is inconsistent with the U.S. position. He said Netanyahu's plan is not part of Trump's "20-point plan" to end the Gaza conflict, but emphasized that U.S. and Israeli ultimate goals align: that Gaza be governed by an entity other than the Palestinian armed group Hamas.
It was previously revealed that Trump angrily berated Netanyahu, pressuring Israel to postpone planned airstrikes on Lebanon. However, Netanyahu insisted on the 2nd that Israel would continue strikes against Iran's regional proxy, Hezbollah in Lebanon, vowing not to allow Iran to threaten Israel's existence and claiming the Iranian regime's foundation has collapsed. Speaking at a ceremony for the new head of Mossad, Netanyahu declared, "Iran has paid a heavy price in the conflict, the regime's foundation has already collapsed, it is no longer what it once was. I can state clearly: it will eventually fall." He further asserted that Israel would continue its long-standing policy of never allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons and threaten Israel's existence, stating Israel would make the Iranian regime disappear from the world so it could no longer threaten Israel with nuclear bombs and thousands of ballistic missiles.
Just one day before Netanyahu's remarks, under pressure from Trump, Israel postponed airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, Lebanon. U.S. media reported that during a call, Trump angrily called Netanyahu "crazy," accused him of ingratitude, and warned that bombing Beirut would increase Israel's international isolation. Analysis suggests Trump implicitly indicated that escalating conflict in Lebanon could disrupt U.S.-Iran ceasefire negotiations.
Hezbollah senior official Hashem Safieddine stated in an interview on the 2nd that Hezbollah does not agree to any "partial ceasefire" agreement with Israel. Safieddine said Hezbollah and its allies would not accept a deal where "Israel stops attacks on Beirut's southern suburbs in exchange for Hezbollah stopping strikes on northern Israeli settlements." He emphasized Hezbollah only accepts a comprehensive, complete, and genuine ceasefire, not merely a return to the pre-conflict status quo, stating, "We will not agree to any partial ceasefire agreement."
Lebanon's National News Agency reported on the 2nd that Israeli airstrikes continued on multiple locations in southern Lebanon, killing at least 12 and injuring 4, including Lebanese army personnel. A drone strike on a road in the Tyre area killed six people. Hezbollah stated its fighters launched a series of attacks on Israeli forces in southern Lebanon that morning. Lebanese President Michel Aoun issued a statement emphasizing that Lebanon has no choice but negotiation, stating, "True strength lies not in waging war, but in having the courage and wisdom to end war through negotiation to safeguard national interests." Data from Lebanon's Health Ministry shows that since the resumption of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel on March 2nd, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have resulted in 3,468 deaths and 10,577 injuries.
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