Iran launches drone attack on Bahrain as tanker strike raises fears of renewed Gulf escalation

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran launched a drone assault targeting Bahrain and a tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and raising concerns that the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States could collapse.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British maritime security agency, said a tanker reported being struck by an unidentified projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel sustained damage to its bridge, but all crew members were reported safe and no environmental damage was recorded.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Panama-flagged tanker KIKU. Authorities have not confirmed who was responsible for the attack, and investigations are ongoing.

The tanker incident followed an Iranian drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz, which prompted the United States to launch overnight airstrikes against Iranian military-related targets.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces struck Iranian missile and drone storage facilities as well as coastal radar sites in response to what it described as “unwarranted aggression against commercial shipping by Iranian forces,” which it said violated the ceasefire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in a statement carried by state news agency IRNA, said it targeted several locations linked to the US military in the region but did not specify the exact locations.

Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry said “a number of Iranian drones” targeted the country, describing the attack as a threat to the safety of citizens and residents. No immediate casualties or major damage were reported.

Bahrain is a key US ally in the Gulf and hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The country recently hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, where officials called for an end to attacks and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

The latest attacks have placed renewed pressure on a recently agreed interim US-Iran deal aimed at reducing hostilities and opening negotiations on broader issues, including maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

Under the agreement, the two sides were given 60 days to negotiate details of a possible long-term arrangement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy routes, with a significant portion of global oil and natural gas shipments passing through the narrow waterway. Any disruption could affect international trade and energy markets.

A multinational maritime coordination body overseen by the US Navy said Saturday it would expand a shipping route near Oman to allow both inbound and outbound traffic. The move came as Iran continued to assert control over shipping activity in the strait.

Iranian officials have warned that vessels must follow its rules when passing through the waterway. Gulf countries and the United States have rejected those claims, maintaining that the strait is an international maritime passage.

The Joint Maritime Information Center warned that the threat to ships in the area remained “substantial,” citing security risks including possible mines and ongoing naval activity.

The International Maritime Organization has also paused a ship evacuation effort from the area, saying operations would not resume until stronger guarantees are in place to protect vessels from further attacks.

Maritime authorities continue to monitor the Strait of Hormuz as the United States and Iran face growing pressure to prevent further escalation.