Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks on Israel and Kuwait early Sunday, local time, escalating tensions in an already volatile Middle East. The assaults came just one day after United States President Donald Trump issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran, warning of “catastrophic consequences” if it did not reach a diplomatic agreement.
Israeli and Kuwaiti authorities have confirmed that their air defence systems were activated in response to Iran’s latest strikes, successfully intercepting several incoming projectiles.
The current crisis traces back to 28 February, when the United States and Israel jointly initiated military operations targeting Iran. These attacks resulted in the deaths of numerous top civilian and military officials, including Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to regional reports. Since then, Iran has retaliated, triggering a month-long conflict that has rippled across the Middle East and unsettled global markets.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for oil and gas shipments, remains under strict Iranian control. Tehran has also targeted economic assets in neighbouring Gulf countries that it considers linked to the US-Israeli campaign.
Iranian authorities emphasise that these strikes are not unilateral. On Saturday, the deputy governor of Khuzestan province reported that an attack on a petrochemical facility in the country’s southwest, attributed to Israel or the United States, killed five individuals.
| Date | Location | Incident | Casualties / Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb | Iran | US-Israel military strikes | Multiple top officials killed, including Supreme Leader |
| 26 Mar | Iran | Trump’s ultimatum issued | 48-hour warning for Iran to comply |
| 4 Apr | Israel & Kuwait | Iranian missile and drone attacks | Intercepted by air defence systems |
| 3 Apr | Khuzestan, Iran | Attack on petrochemical plant | 5 killed |
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump reiterated his ultimatum, recalling that he previously gave Iran ten days to negotiate and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He emphasised that time was “running out” and warned of severe consequences within 48 hours.
Iran’s central military command firmly rejected the ultimatum. General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi described Trump’s threats as “helpless, panicked, unbalanced, and foolish,” issuing a counter-warning: “The gates of hell will open for you.”
Trump subsequently posted a video showing explosions in the night sky, accompanied by a caption claiming that numerous Iranian military leaders had been killed in Tehran and suggesting additional undisclosed events. The precise timing of the depicted attack, however, was not specified.
The conflict’s continuation has already destabilised the region, heightened the risk to vital maritime trade routes, and contributed to global economic uncertainty. Analysts warn that the ongoing tit-for-tat escalation could further inflame tensions across the Middle East.