US and Iran trade strikes in Gulf as ceasefire framework strains

The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes in the Persian Gulf on Saturday in the latest test of the ceasefire framework agreed between the two powers in recent months. The US military struck Iranian drones and radar installations, according to Pentagon statements, while Iranian officials said their forces had targeted American military positions in Kuwait and Bahrain in response.

The exchanges mark the second significant breach of the ceasefire accord since its establishment. Neither side reported casualties from Saturday's strikes, though both nations have characterised the other's actions as provocative and outside the terms of the agreement.

The incidents come as regional tensions remain volatile across the Middle East, with allied powers watching for signs that the ceasefire framework can hold through the summer months. Military analysts in Washington and Tehran have warned that further escalation risks unravelling the accord entirely.