DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military reported on Tuesday that Iran fired missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain, which either failed to reach their targets or were intercepted. U.S. Central Command stated that it conducted strikes on an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island in response. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard claimed it targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain during its missile attacks, citing a response to U.S. actions against an oil tanker.
Reports from two semi-official Iranian news agencies indicated that Iran ceased communication with mediators regarding a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel. President Donald Trump disputed these claims, stating that discussions were ongoing. A regional official involved in mediation noted that Iran had not communicated on the day of the report, despite previous assertions that a ceasefire in Lebanon was necessary for negotiations to continue.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not address the communication cutoff during a congressional hearing but expressed optimism about the nuclear negotiations. Iran is reportedly attempting to exert pressure on the U.S. to influence Israeli military actions in Lebanon, where fighting has intensified.
Inflation in Iran has reached levels not seen since World War II, with the Central Bank reporting a consumer price index increase of 77.2% year-on-year as of May. Economic challenges continue to affect the Iranian population, leading to protests in recent years over rising prices and currency devaluation. Analysts suggest that further unrest could arise if economic conditions do not improve.
The Iranian Central Bank's figures indicate a significant rise in inflation, particularly in essential goods and services, with a reported increase of 113.8% in daily needs compared to the previous year. The Bamdad Institute of Economic Studies described the current inflation rate as unprecedented since World War II.
