DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

Why did Iran renew attacks on Gulf states, despite the Memorandum of Understanding? - analysis

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Context piece
  • Iran renewed attacks on US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain despite a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US.
  • The attacks are seen as a signal of Iran's commitment to its 'resistance' axis and a protest against a Lebanon-Israel agreement.
  • The renewed aggression follows US threats and comes after Iran-linked attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran launched renewed attacks on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain early Sunday, defying a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Washington. Experts suggest these actions signal Iran's continued dedication to its "resistance" axis for hardliners and serve as a protest against a new agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!

— Donald TrumpIssuing renewed threats against Iran regarding its actions.

The attacks occurred shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated threats against Iran, warning of severe consequences if the agreement was not honored. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy Command announced its intention to make American bases "experience hell in the coming days." While the IRGC claimed only to have targeted U.S. military installations, an Iranian strike also damaged a residential building in Bahrain's Muharraq province.

These developments follow a series of escalating events. The United States had previously launched retaliatory strikes against Iran after an Iranian drone attacked a Panama-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This waterway is critical and its opening was a condition for Iran to receive frozen assets and sanctions relief, enabling oil sales.

IRGC says it will make US bases 'experience hell in the coming days'

— IRGC Navy CommandAnnouncing intentions for future actions against U.S. bases in the region.

Experts view the recent attacks as Iran's attempt to assert dominance, particularly as its influence in Lebanon faces challenges. The Jerusalem-Beirut agreement outlines a process for disarming Hezbollah, a group deeply aligned with Iran. Hezbollah's actions, including dragging Lebanon into conflict in March following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscore its loyalty to the Islamic Republic. The threat to Iran's hold in Lebanon is seen as a significant factor motivating these aggressive actions.

show that they’re still in charge.

— Dr. Menahem MerhaviExplaining Iran's motivation behind the attacks as a display of control.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog