Rubio Says “War Over” as Gulf Hostilities Flare Again
News Desk
Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a Senate hearing that “the war is over,” but fresh hostilities erupted within hours across the Persian Gulf region, underscoring continuing instability despite diplomatic claims of progress.
According to US military statements and international media reports, Iranian missiles and drones targeted locations in Kuwait and Bahrain. Several projectiles were intercepted or failed to reach their targets, while regional air defence systems were activated in response to the attacks.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted defensive operations and retaliatory strikes following the incidents, as tensions escalated further across the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iranian armed forces were carrying out “legitimate self-defence” strikes against sites in the Gulf region allegedly used by the United States to target civilian shipping and violate ceasefire arrangements. In a post on X, he reaffirmed Tehran’s position that its actions were in response to continued aggression.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes targeting US-linked installations, including areas near Bahrain and Kuwait. However, US officials denied several of these claims, stating that most incoming missiles and drones were intercepted or failed mid-flight.
The escalation comes amid stalled diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, raising new doubts about the durability of any ceasefire framework and prospects for regional stability.
Iran has also maintained that it is acting under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which allows self-defence in the event of armed attack.
Meanwhile, the United States insists its priority remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran continues to assert that its nuclear programme is peaceful in nature.
Former US President Donald Trump, commenting on the situation, said Iran had agreed not to pursue nuclear weapons and suggested that progress in negotiations could be possible in the coming days. However, no formal agreement has been confirmed by either side.
Diplomatic observers say the situation remains highly fluid, with ongoing exchanges of military action and competing claims over the status of negotiations contributing to uncertainty across the region.
