U.S. Strikes Iranian Base on Qeshm Island Following Attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain

The conflict between the United States and Iran has expanded significantly over the last 24 hours, with hostilities shifting toward Gulf state infrastructure and critical maritime chokepoints. Iranian forces launched a wave of missiles and drones targeting Kuwait and Bahrain; Kuwaiti officials confirmed that while 30 projectiles were intercepted, airport facilities were damaged, resulting in one death and numerous injuries. In a direct military response, the U.S. struck an Iranian ground control station on Qeshm Island, a strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation has triggered immediate economic and political repercussions. Crude oil prices have surged to approximately $97 per barrel as markets react to the heightened risk of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Domestically, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a Democratic-led measure aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war without explicit congressional approval, reflecting deepening political divisions over the administration's "maximum pressure" strategy. On the diplomatic front, a new regional framework has emerged linking a potential U.S.-Iran deal to a ceasefire in Lebanon. While President Trump stated the U.S. remains open to a diplomatic settlement, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintains that any agreement must include protections for Lebanon and Hezbollah. Concurrently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that further military escalations would remain at the discretion of the U.S. administration.