Iran strikes Bahrain, Kuwait after US attacks; Egypt condemns Iranian assault, urges restraint

CAIRO – 8 July 2026: Egypt strongly condemned Iran's Wednesday strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as a flagrant violation of the two Gulf states' sovereignty and warning that the attacks mark an unacceptable escalation that threatens regional security and stability.

In a statement, Egypt's foreign ministry reaffirmed Cairo's complete rejection of any actions that undermine the security and sovereignty of sisterly states or endanger regional stability, renewing its call for restraint and de-escalation to preserve peace and security across the region.

The condemnation came after the United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iran early Wednesday, saying the operation was carried out in response to Tehran's attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), US forces struck more than 80 targets, including Iranian air defense systems, command-and-control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps near the strategic waterway.

 

CENTCOM said the operation followed recent Iranian attacks on three commercial tankers — the Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan and the Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity.

It described these attacks on shipping as a dangerous violation of the ceasefire and freedom of navigation.

Iran responded by launching strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, further jeopardizing the memorandum of understanding reached with the United States in mid-June to end the war between the two countries.

Cairo expressed full solidarity with Bahrain and Kuwait, pledging support for the two countries in confronting any threats to their security and stability.

The ministry added that there could be no justification for what it described as Iran's repeated and reprehensible attacks on Arab Gulf states, stressing that the security and stability of the Gulf are an integral part of Egypt's own national security and that such attacks "cannot be tolerated."

Later on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump declared that the interim agreement with Iran was "over," although he said U.S. officials would continue negotiations with Tehran despite expressing little confidence in their success.

"For me, I think it's over," Trump told reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. "They can talk, but I think they're wasting their time."

The renewed hostilities have cast doubt over planned negotiations on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's disputed nuclear program, while also fueling concerns over regional stability and sending oil prices sharply higher.