Iran's army claimed Friday it launched attacks on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, escalating a five-month conflict that President Donald Trump now acknowledges could continue indefinitely despite earlier promises of swift victory. The attacks targeted aircraft shelters, satellite communication systems, and equipment storage facilities at Kuwait's Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, along with power generators and navigation systems at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, according to Iranian state media.
The renewed strikes came just three days after U.S. forces completed a "heavy wave" of attacks against Iran, hitting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets nationwide. U.S. Central Command said the strikes targeted command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal defenses and maritime capabilities. Yet Iran's continued ability to launch attacks raises questions about the effectiveness of a military campaign the White House declared successful four months ago.
Trump Shifts From Optimism to Uncertainty
Trump's remarks Friday at Camp David marked a sharp reversal from his tone earlier in the week, when he'd claimed the U.S. was engaged in "very friendly negotiations" with Iran. "They'll get weaker. They'll get a little stronger, maybe. But they'll get weaker, and then they peter out," Trump said during a Cabinet meeting in Maryland. He acknowledged Americans should prepare for continued fighting, admitting he'd be "foolish" to rule out a prolonged conflict.
"I think we just want to win. We're doing very well. We're trying to be nice — as nice as you can be in a situation like that — but they're being decimated," Trump said. He insisted Iran has "no navy" and "no air force," yet conceded, "It doesn't mean they don't have any capability. They have some, but very little."
The president also said he was "losing faith" in reaching a deal with Iran. "They do lie, and they do misrepresent," Trump said. "All they do is make me angry."
Political Pressure Mounts Ahead of Midterms
The ongoing conflict places Trump under mounting political pressure as the U.S. approaches November midterm elections, just three months away. The White House claimed in April that U.S. forces had achieved the objectives of Operation Epic Fury, including destroying Iran's Navy and its ballistic missile and drone capabilities. Iran has nevertheless continued launching missiles and drones at U.S. bases and threatening commercial shipping.
The renewed fighting followed the collapse of an agreement Washington and Iran reached in June that was intended to end the conflict and restore commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Hostilities resumed in July after Iran attacked vessels transiting the strategically vital waterway. Oman, Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt have sought to revive the June agreement, but those efforts have stalled over control of the critical waterway, sanctions relief and Iran's nuclear program.
Global Shipping Faces Expanding Threat
Hamish Kinnear, Middle East and North Africa analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, warned that a drone attack on shipping in Egypt signals the Suez Canal is also a potential target. "The expanding geographical range of drone and missile attacks on shipping this year – which encompass the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean – amount to a new era of maritime risk," Kinnear said. He added, "The technological developments and targeting strategies pioneered in the cauldron of war in Ukraine and the Middle East are extending maritime risk well beyond established conflict hotspots."
Oil prices rose Friday morning after Iran's Fars news agency reported the IRGC stopped two tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz and said four other tankers had changed course. International benchmark Brent crude futures with September delivery traded 0.6% higher at $89.53 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures with September delivery rose 0.5% to $84.04.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump indicated he'd like Congress to add tariffs on Iran to a sanctions bill against Russia and Tehran that has bipartisan support. Those duties would have little effect because the U.S. imports next to nothing from Iran, but tacking them onto the bill could hinder the chances of it becoming law.
Why This Matters:
The acknowledgment that this conflict could drag on indefinitely contradicts months of administration claims about decisively crippling Iran's military capabilities. Ordinary Americans face the prospect of prolonged military engagement with no clear exit strategy, while global consumers bear the cost of disrupted shipping and rising oil prices. The failure of diplomatic efforts brokered by regional mediators suggests the conflict's resolution depends less on military dominance than on addressing underlying disputes over sanctions, nuclear programs, and control of vital waterways. With midterm elections approaching, voters will judge whether the administration's strategy serves national interests or perpetuates an unwinnable cycle of retaliation. The expanding geographic range of attacks on commercial shipping threatens global trade routes far beyond the Middle East, potentially raising costs for goods and energy worldwide.