DUBAI — The United States and Iran traded strikes early Wednesday in one of the biggest nights of attacks since the ceasefire began in April, with negotiations on perilous ground after days of back-and-forth and rising frustrations on all sides. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones against the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, an airbase and helicopters in a Gulf country in response to what it described as a US attack on a communications tower south of Qeshm Island. The US military said it carried out new "self-defense" strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island after Iran fired missiles and drones at US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The night’s hostilities appeared to begin when the US military struck a Botswana-flagged oil tanker heading toward an Iranian port on Kharg Island with a Hellfire missile on Tuesday. The ship did not comply with the US blockade of Iranian ports, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). In response, Iran said it fired missiles at a Liberian-flagged vessel. But the more serious escalation came after the US struck an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to fire missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain.Iran said it targeted “an American air and helicopter base” in the region, as well as the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. But the US said “all Iranian attacks on American forces failed,” adding that its missiles and drones were either intercepted or “fell short” of their targets. Sirens sounded in Bahrain in the early hours of Wednesday, as the country’s Interior Ministry called on citizens to “remain calm” and seek shelter at the nearest safe place. Shortly before the ministry’s announcement, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed three missiles had hit “enemy bases” in Kuwait, while Kuwait’s army said it was intercepting “enemy” missile and drone attacks. Iran’s state broadcaster later claimed that Iranian forces had targeted two air bases used by US forces in Kuwait. Another attempt by Iran to attack US forces stationed in Kuwait on Wednesday morning local time failed, according to the US military. “An additional wave of Iranian drones attempting to attack US forces in Kuwait failed to impact intended targets tonight,” US Central Command said on X. “No American personnel or assets were harmed,” it added. Iran said it targeted American bases in the region and a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz in response to what it said were US attacks on an Iran-linked oil tanker and strikes on Qeshm Island. IRGC said they fired missiles at a vessel, identified as the Liberian-flagged Panayadamaging its engine room, in response to the US striking an oil tanker heading toward Iran’s key oil port at Kharg Island, Iranian state media IRIB reported. The IRGC said the US targeted a military “communications tower in southern Qeshm Island,” which is considered part of Iran’s “arch defense” near the Strait of Hormuz. Retaliatory missile and drone attacks were launched by Iran on “an American air and helicopter base” as well as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet,” the IRGC said. The IRGC has warned that “any further aggression would be met with a different and more severe response.” Despite the exchange, the United said the US-Iran ceasefire remains in effect. Iranian media outlets have signaled talks between Tehran and Washington are ongoing, and US President Donald Trump told ABC News he believes a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire with Iran is reachable “over the next week.” But the ceasefire is on precarious footing, with Iran suspending talks earlier this week, and threatening escalation if Israel’s attacks on Lebanon continue. Trump has pressed Israel to scale back its Lebanon offensive, with further talks expected on Wednesday.The State Department said Tuesday that “progress continues on the political and security tracks” in US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington. "Talks will continue Wednesday," the agency said. “Progress continues on the political and security tracks as we break from the failures of the past 20 years and advance toward a comprehensive agreement aimed at restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring Israel’s security,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on social media. The announcement came hours after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is trying to “stymie” diplomatic efforts between the two countries.
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