US and Iran exchange new attacks

03/06/2026

TEHRAN / WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite a ceasefire between the United States and Iran that has been in place since April, the past several days have seen a renewed cycle of military action and retaliatory strikes between the two countries.

According to reports, the US targeted a tanker en route to Iran’s Kharg Island, while Iran responded with attacks on US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. The escalation continued as the United States carried out a strike on Qeshm Island, near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In turn, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it had struck a vessel it described as being linked to the United States.

The IRGC warned that any renewed US military escalation would be met with a “different response” in terms of operational scope, geographic reach, and the types of weapons employed. Despite the rising tensions, both Washington and Tehran have indicated that diplomatic contacts remain ongoing, with negotiations focused in part on Iran’s nuclear program and described by officials as showing cautious signs of progress.

During a hearing before the US Senate, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said that Iran may now be willing to discuss aspects of its nuclear program that it had previously refused to address.

He also said that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains alive and is playing an increasingly prominent role in the country’s affairs, while preparations continue for funeral ceremonies for his father, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Qom, and Mashhad.

While both sides continue to exchange warnings and limited strikes, officials in Washington and Tehran maintain that diplomatic channels are still open, even as the risk of broader escalation remains elevated.