U.S. and Iran Trade Strikes as House Moves to Limit Hostilities

Military tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply over the last 24 hours. Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting airport facilities in Kuwait, causing dozens of injuries and significant economic damage. In response, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed "self-defense" strikes against Iranian military assets on Qeshm Island, targeting ballistic missile and drone launch sites. While Iranian sources claimed a strike on a U.S. Navy destroyer, CENTCOM has officially dismissed these reports as false. On the diplomatic front, President Donald Trump stated the U.S. remains committed to a negotiated settlement but emphasized that military options remain ready if diplomacy fails. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that while a diplomatic lane remains open, Tehran will not accept any agreement that does not address the situation in Lebanon and the security of Hezbollah. This shift suggests Iran is leveraging regional files to secure broader security concessions beyond a narrow bilateral agreement. In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives took a significant step toward de-escalation by passing a war powers resolution in a 215–208 vote. The measure seeks to require explicit congressional authorization for continued hostilities against Iran. Concurrently, a U.S. State Department joint statement noted that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a ceasefire framework, contingent on a Hezbollah withdrawal from the South Litani Sector, as the administration attempts to decouple the Lebanon front from the wider Gulf conflict.