At least five people, including a four-year-old child, were killed and 68 others injured after a wedding ceremony near Sirik, a coastal area close to Iran’s Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly caught in a US attack, according to Iranian state media.
Iran’s Mehr news agency reported the deaths, while the state-run IRNA news agency cited a provincial official as saying that dozens of people were injured in the incident.
The Iranian government strongly condemned the reported attack, saying a celebration had been turned into a scene of death and mourning. In a statement shared by Iran’s diplomatic mission, Tehran said the incident would not be forgotten and vowed that it would respond.
Iranian officials also linked the incident to what they described as a broader pattern of attacks. The Foreign Ministry said the reported wedding casualties could not be viewed separately from previous strikes and criticised governments and international organisations that had either remained silent or attempted to justify the attacks.
The latest incident came as the United States and Iran exchanged strikes following a month-long lull in hostilities. The US military said it had carried out a new wave of attacks against Iranian military targets, including air-defence systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.
US officials also said American forces had targeted two Iranian government-owned oil tankers as part of the wider operation.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against US-linked targets across the region, including American military bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Iraq. Jordan said it intercepted 10 Iranian missiles, while three others landed in remote areas. No casualties were reported in the Jordanian attacks.
The conflict has also raised fresh concerns about the safety of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil routes. Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude were reportedly hit by unidentified projectiles while travelling through the strategic waterway.
Oil prices have reacted sharply to the renewed escalation. Brent crude settled at $94.65 a barrel on Tuesday, marking a 4.6 per cent increase, and prices continued to rise on Wednesday as markets assessed the possibility of a prolonged confrontation.
US President Donald Trump has warned Iran against retaliating against American forces. He said Washington would respond with greater force if Iran launched further attacks and warned that a much larger operation could follow.
Trump also claimed that the US was in “almost total control” of the Strait of Hormuz and said Iran’s economy was under severe pressure because of US sanctions.
With military strikes continuing and tensions spreading across the region, fears are growing over further civilian casualties, disruption to global energy supplies and a wider escalation of the conflict.
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