Iran says it targeted US military radar in Bahrain in retaliatory strike

Key Points:

• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have destroyed a US early-warning radar in Bahrain in retaliation for a US airstrike on a communications tower near the Strait of Hormuz, marking Iran’s first direct attack on US military installations in months; however, US Central Command denied the radar was destroyed and reported intercepting two Iranian drones headed for Bahrain.
• Former President Donald Trump stated he would only attack Iran if necessary, citing pressure from Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia to hold back on large-scale military strikes, and redirected VP candidate JD Vance away from Iran negotiations toward domestic issues, despite Vance being viewed by Iran as a key figure for peace talks.
• A UK opinion poll revealed strong public opposition to renewed US military action against Iran, with 65% against resuming war and 54% opposing the use of UK bases for US attacks on Iran; support for additional UK sanctions was mixed, and opposition was particularly high among 2024 Labour voters.
• Iran’s Assembly of Experts, responsible for choosing the supreme leader, called for a review of Iran’s nuclear non-proliferation treaty membership, signaling potential religious and political shifts toward permitting nuclear weapons development despite a previous fatwa banning them.
• The UN nuclear inspectorate expressed serious concerns over Iran’s lack of transparency and refusal to allow inspections at nuclear sites, particularly the undisclosed Isfahan uranium enrichment facility, emphasizing the urgency of resuming verification activities to monitor Iran’s nuclear capabilities.