US Investigates Wedding Strike as Iran Warns of Wider Retaliation

Washington (GNP): Tensions between the United States and Iran have escalated further after Washington carried out fresh strikes on Iranian territory, prompting Tehran to respond with missile and drone attacks targeting US military positions across the Gulf region.

US Vice President JD Vance confirmed Thursday that Washington is investigating claims that a US airstrike struck a wedding gathering in southern Iran, resulting in civilian casualties. Vance said the administration takes such allegations seriously and would examine any operational mistakes with the aim of improving future military conduct. He also ruled out negotiations with Tehran unless Iran halts its attacks on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, describing the condition as non-negotiable.

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref responded by warning that any future US strikes would be met with an asymmetric and multi-layered response. Aref said recent American attacks had shifted Iran’s security calculations and defense posture, adding that future Iranian actions would aim to undermine an aggressor’s ability to operate securely in the region. He further warned of potential economic consequences for the United States, cautioning that Washington should brace for pressure on fuel supplies.

Iran’s military said it had launched the 31st phase of Operation Saeqeh, claiming missile and drone strikes on US military facilities in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. According to Iranian forces, the strikes targeted communications systems, equipment warehouses and fighter jet hangars at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait, along with troop positions and radar systems at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE. These claims have not been independently verified.

Separately, US President Donald Trump dismissed reports suggesting American military operations were being constrained by ammunition shortages, stating that the United States maintains extensive reserves of medium- to high-grade munitions and continues to produce weapons at record levels. Trump said some arms sales to other countries had been temporarily paused as part of stockpiling efforts, though supplies to allied nations would resume, and criticized media coverage he characterized as undermining the US war effort.

Also Read: U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates, Fears of Wider War Grow

Despite the continued exchange of strikes, Trump is reportedly weighing whether to declare an end to the conflict with Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing discussions with senior aides. The report said Trump believes sustained economic pressure could eventually compel Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program.

At the same time, the Pentagon is maintaining an extended military presence in the region, with approximately 50,000 US troops and 19 warships, including two aircraft carriers and 13 guided-missile destroyers, reportedly stationed to preserve operational flexibility. The scale of this deployment suggests the confrontation could continue well into the coming year, even as discussions around a formal end to the conflict continue.

Vance said, “We’re investigating it because obviously we care. We want to know.”