US and Iran Exchange Fire in Persian Gulf, Fragile Ceasefire Tested Again

(Central News Agency, London, June 6, Combined Foreign Reports) The unstable ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran is facing another test. US forces attacked Iranian drones and radar stations today, and Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US bases in the Persian Gulf.

According to a report by BBC News, the US military stated that it had shot down four "one-way attack drones" launched by Iran heading towards the Strait of Hormuz, calling them "a direct threat to regional maritime traffic."

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that US forces "subsequently attacked surveillance radar stations on Iran's southern coast to prevent further attacks."

Iran retaliated. According to a report by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Tehran launched ballistic missiles at two US air bases in Kuwait and a US naval facility in Bahrain.

The US Central Command stated that a preliminary assessment showed Iran fired a total of 7 missiles at two Persian Gulf countries, 6 of which were intercepted, and one missed its target.

The US-Iran ceasefire agreement took effect on April 8, but recent exchanges of fire have escalated the situation.

Local officials said Iranian drones attacked Kuwait's international airport on the 3rd, killing one person and injuring over 60.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied responsibility for the airport attack, claiming the damage was caused by a misfire from a US missile interception system. CENTCOM refuted this claim, accusing Iran of launching a "deliberate, premeditated, and unjustified attack" on the airport.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously stated that attacks on US bases in the Persian Gulf were in retaliation for US airstrikes on Iranian oil tankers and Qeshm Island.

Despite the ongoing conflict, the US has issued visas to the Iranian national football team to allow them to enter the country for their first World Cup match in Los Angeles on the 15th.

This is the first time in World Cup history that a host nation has hosted a team from an enemy country while in a state of conflict.

The new exchange of fire comes as US-Iran ceasefire negotiations are deadlocked, with no progress on an end-of-war agreement. US media reported that President Trump has proposed adjusting the terms of the agreement.

An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on the 1st that the US is "constantly changing its position, making new or contradictory demands."

Shortly after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire in early April, the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Trump stated that the measure would be "fully in effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and formally signed." (Editor: Ho Hung-ju) 1150606