Regional tensions escalated on Saturday after Bahrain accused Iran of launching drone attacks against its territory, prompting widespread condemnation from Gulf states and raising fresh concerns over the implementation of the recently brokered US-Iran ceasefire and the security of the Strait of Hormuz.
Bahrain’s foreign ministry denounced what it described as Iranian drone attacks, calling them a violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and warning that Tehran alone would bear responsibility for undermining regional peace efforts. The government said it reserved the full right to defend its security and territorial integrity.
Egypt condemned the attacks “in the strongest terms,” describing them as an unacceptable violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the incident came at a time when regional efforts were focused on reducing tensions and urged all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the current diplomatic momentum.
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait also condemned the reported attacks. Doha described them as a flagrant violation of international law and called for continued dialogue and de-escalation, while the UAE reaffirmed its full solidarity with Bahrain. Kuwait warned that the attacks represented a dangerous escalation that threatened ongoing regional and international efforts to preserve stability.
The diplomatic backlash came as renewed tensions emerged over the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state television reported a sharp increase in requests from commercial vessels to use a shipping corridor designated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, saying traffic had increased after warning shots were fired at ships that allegedly failed to comply with Iranian instructions.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said safe passage through the strait could not be guaranteed through “ambiguous arrangements” or mechanisms that excluded Iran as the coastal state. He warned that any navigation framework must be coordinated with Tehran under the provisions of the Islamabad memorandum of understanding; otherwise, Iran could suspend the alternative shipping corridor.
In contrast, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a US Navy-supported maritime coordination body, announced that shipping lanes near Oman were being widened to facilitate traffic entering and leaving the Strait of Hormuz. The move was widely seen as part of broader US efforts to restore normal commercial navigation through the strategic waterway.
The competing messages reflected growing disagreement over how the strait should be managed following the ceasefire. Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, had said earlier this week that any future governance model for Hormuz must involve Iran, Oman, and the Gulf states, rejecting the idea that any single country should control access to the waterway.
Iran also accused Washington of violating the ceasefire. The Supreme National Security Council condemned US air strikes carried out on Friday against radar facilities and missile storage sites along Iran’s southern coast, describing them as a clear breach of the ceasefire memorandum and the UN Charter.
The US military said the strikes were launched after Iranian drones targeted a commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump said four attack drones had been launched at shipping, one of which struck a cargo vessel before US forces shot down the other three.
On Saturday morning, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced retaliatory strikes against US military positions in the region without identifying the targets. US Vice President JD Vance warned that “violence will be met with violence,” while adding that Tehran should resolve any disputes over implementation of the memorandum through direct communication rather than military action.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts continued on another front. Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington following four days of negotiations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the accord as an important first step but cautioned that “much work remains” before a lasting settlement can be achieved.
