Here we go again!

Following the interceptions, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said debris from the attack damaged several overhead power lines. The ministry confirmed, however, that electricity services were not affected. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the latest Iranian attack, describing it as a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and international law that undermines regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions. It reaffirmed Kuwait’s legitimate right to take all necessary measures to protect its security and stability. Kuwait also condemned the repeated Iranian attacks on Bahrain, calling them a flagrant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and a clear breach of international law.

The ministry stressed the importance of respecting international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, while reaffirming Kuwait’s full solidarity with Bahrain and support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security and stability. Qatar condemned the repeated Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, describing them as blatant violations of both countries’ sovereignty and international law.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry emphasized the need to shield the region from the consequences of the unjustified attacks, continue dialogue and diplomacy, and build on the gains achieved under the memorandum of understanding. It reaffirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with Kuwait and Bahrain. Oman also denounced the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as incidents involving Saudi and Qatari commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Omani Foreign Ministry warned that escalating military tensions threaten regional security, maritime safety, international trade and global energy supplies. It urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, halt further escalation, prioritize diplomacy and implement existing understandings to preserve regional peace and stability.

Cairo reiterated its full solidarity with Kuwait and Bahrain, stressing that Gulf security remains an integral part of Egypt’s national security and renewing its call for restraint and de-escalation. Jordan also strongly condemned the attack on Kuwait, calling it a flagrant violation of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and international law. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates reaffirmed the Kingdom’s full solidarity with Kuwait and support for all measures taken to protect its security and the safety of its citizens and residents. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, describing them as blatant violations of both countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. He reaffirmed Lebanon’s solidarity with Kuwait, Bahrain and all GCC states, stressing that Gulf security is inseparable from Arab and regional security, while calling for restraint, dialogue and diplomacy.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also condemned the attacks, expressing solidarity with Kuwait, Bahrain and the GCC states. He likewise denounced the attacks on Saudi and Qatari commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming Lebanon’s support for all measures aimed at safeguarding Gulf security and preserving regional stability. Separately, Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants condemned the Iranian attacks targeting Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. It described the attacks as blatant violations of state sovereignty, international law and the UN Charter, warning that they threaten maritime security, global energy supplies and regional peace. The ministry called for an immediate end to the attacks, full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and accountability for those responsible under international law. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said the exchange of fire between the United States and Iran has further complicated efforts to end the conflict, stressing that Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait are “unacceptable.”

In a post on X, Kallas said Tehran had committed under the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but its recent attacks on ships near the strategic waterway violate that commitment and threaten global energy supplies. She emphasized that freedom of navigation must remain unimpeded and announced that EU foreign ministers will meet with their Gulf counterparts next week to discuss implementation of the agreement and maritime security. Meanwhile, Kuwait reaffirmed its commitment to regional security and stability during the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen, said the council adopted by consensus a Kuwait-sponsored resolution reflecting growing international concern over destabilizing activities in the region.

Al-Hayen strongly condemned the repeated missile and drone attacks targeting civilian facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, describing them as serious violations of international law and the UN Charter. He reaffirmed Kuwait’s legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and national security, while warning that attacks on oil tankers, commercial vessels and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz threaten regional stability, global trade, energy supplies and international economic security. He called on Iran to immediately cease hostile actions against neighboring states, comply with international maritime obligations, support ongoing de-escalation efforts and respect the sovereignty of states as the foundation for lasting regional peace and stability. Elsewhere, President Donald Trump warned Iran on Wednesday that the U.S. was preparing for another night of strikes, just hours after he said the ceasefire was over following Iranian attacks on American military sites in the Gulf.

Trump threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including electric plants and desalination plants, and to seize Kharg Island, with its oil infrastructure. “We hit them very hard last night,” Trump said when asked about a possible return to hostilities. “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.” Trump made the remarks in Ankara, Turkey, on the sidelines of a NATO summit. He said the strikes are continued retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “They are behaving very badly,” he said of Iran, accusing the country of launching drones and a missile at ships. The latest exchange of fire raised fears that the war in Iran could reignite, and Trump fueled those concerns by saying the interim agreement to pause fighting was “over,” although he added that he would allow negotiations to continue. Attacks have repeatedly threatened the shaky ceasefire, but Trump’s comments added new uncertainty, and oil prices shot up after he spoke. A renewed conflict could engulf the wider Middle East and would likely again halt energy shipments through the strait that are crucial to the global economy. “For me, I think it’s over,” Trump said when asked about the status of the ceasefire. He added that U.S. representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” he said.

Negotiations to reach a final deal had been due to start after the dayslong funeral for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 in the war’s first moments. The funeral, which ends Thursday, was supposed to be a period of lower tensions. The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program. “The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote on X. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”

The U.S. military’s Central Command said American forces launched strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.” It said it hit Iranian targets including air-defense systems, radars and over 60 small boats used by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Those boats have been key to threatening ships in the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war. Iran’s ability to bring shipping in the waterway to a near halt during the war proved its greatest strategic advantage. Rising prices for energy supplies, fertilizer and food put pressure on the U.S. to make a deal. On Wednesday, the price of Brent crude, the international standard, spiked over 5% after Trump’s comments. The U.S. military remains “prepared to hold Iran accountable when the agreement is not adhered to or obeyed,” it added, saying this round of attacks had ended. Iranian state media reported explosions in several locations, including in Bandar Mahshahr, where a Revolutionary Guard member was killed. It also reported attacks on Bushehr, home to Iran’s nuclear power plant complex. On Wednesday morning, both Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, and Kuwait, home to U.S. Army forces, sounded missile alerts. The Revolutionary Guard issued a statement acknowledging targeting U.S. military installations in both countries. Kuwait said it intercepted two ballistic missiles and 13 drones launched by Iran.

The Kuwaiti Electricity Ministry said a number of lines were out of service after shrapnel fell on them. A similar spate of Iranian attacks on shipping and U.S. retaliatory strikes occurred late last month, which similarly drew Iranian attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. Wednesday’s strikes came as Trump was in Turkey for a summit of the NATO military alliance. Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomat in the United Arab Emirates, called Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait “a clear indicator that Tehran remains incapable of committing to the requirements of de-escalation and turning the page on war.” Before the strikes, the U.S. had revoked a license that - for the first time in years - had allowed Iran to conduct oil sales openly in U.S. dollars, as part of the interim deal. Iran long had been suspected of selling sanctioned crude at below-market prices to China.

The revocation came after the strikes on shipping. One tanker was off the coast of Oman when it was hit and caught fire, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. Iranian state television said the tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings but did not directly claim the assault. Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, said the tanker was carrying Qatari natural gas and called the strike an “unacceptable attack” on international navigation and global energy security. He said Qatar, which has been a key mediator alongside Pakistan in the talks, holds Iran “fully legally responsible.” Two other ships sustained some damage, but no one was injured, and both continued on their way, the U.K. agency said. Iran and the United States agreed as part of the interim deal to allow ships to pass through the strait without paying charges for 60 days. But Tehran has insisted it must control the vessels’ routes and vowed to later charge fees for passage. That would upend decades of practice in the waterway. The ships attacked Tuesday all appeared to be using a route close to Oman’s shore, rather than one ordered by Tehran. The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they will not agree to Iran charging for passage through the strait.