Iran Unleashes Fresh Attack Waves On Kuwait, UAE As Trump Signals De-escalation Ahead Of Midterms

Iran's retaliatory attacks on US bases and the regional countries hosting them actually continued overnight into Thursday, despite CENTCOM having on Wednesday announced the cessation of the US bombing operation.

This week's round of US attacks saw six Iranian navy personnel killed, Tasnim is reporting, with Iran's Health Ministry stating that 18 Iranians were killed and over 140 wounded since August 30. The ministry also indicates most of the casualties were women and children, especially due to the reported US bombing of a wedding in the coastal town of Kuhestak along the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran.  

Many of the victims' funerals have commenced on Thursday, regional media reports. The NY Times and other Western media have been seeking to verify details amid ongoing investigations. "Dozens of guests, according to a witness and accounts in local news media, had already arrived at the Malahi family’s home and surrounding buildings in the southern city of Kuhestak to celebrate a young bride and groom," NYT writes.

"Around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the wedding was struck by a bomb that, according to a weapons expert and a visual analysis by The New York Times, had been released by American forces as they carried out intense attacks in southern Iran," the report continues. "At least five wedding guests were killed, including a 6-year-old boy, and at least 67 other people were wounded, according to Iran’s Red Crescent Society, a humanitarian aid group."

President Trump and his Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have meanwhile expressed dismay over why the Iranians don't 'rise up' - but rarely do populations under assault want to openly side with the country attacking them and bombing weddings, hospitals, and girls schools. This is certainly not a strategy for 'winning over' the population.

As for the latest military action, while Iran launched ballistic missiles and/or drones on Bahrain and Jordan on Wednesday as part of the initial salvo, the Kuwaiti government is confirming that its territory has alco come under attack Thursday:

Sirens sounded in Kuwait early Thursday, where air defenses intercepted missile and drones during a "blatant Iranian aggression," the Ministry of Defense said on X.

Kuwait's foreign ministry promptly condemned this the latest attack that began before dawn - slamming the flagrant violation of its sovereignty and a direct threat to its security.

"The continuation of these brazen assaults reflects a hostile approach and constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region," the ministry state. It added that "the attacks represented a systematic undermining of diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and calm" - and said it reserves the right to respond.

Crucially, Tehran is also saying Thursday that it targeted UAE, in a rarity - though it's unclear if there have been any impacts, or the nature of the attack wave. According to a Tasnim press release of the Iranian Army statement [machine translated]:

• In retaliation for the blood of innocent people and the brave men of the armed forces, early this morning the Islamic Republic of Iran's Army struck the satellite communications systems, equipment storage facilities, and fighter aircraft hangars of the U.S. military at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait with missiles and attack drones.
• These attacks caused damage to the communications systems and fighter aircraft hangars.
• Also, as part of this powerful operation, the troop deployment areas and radar systems of the U.S. military at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE came under attack by missiles and drones launched by the Army.
• Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base plays a central role in the logistics and support of the U.S. military in West Asia and has a major role in the country's aerial and surveillance operations.
• Al Minhad Air Base is also considered one of the important centers for the logistical support and air transportation of foreign forces.
• The response of the brave men of the Army to any attack by the terrorist U.S. military will be harsh...

UAE Strongly Condemns Hostile Iranian Attack on Kuwait, but has not initially confirmed if its own territory was hit as well

الإمارات تُدين بشدة الهجوم الإيراني العدواني على الكويت

UAE Strongly Condemns Hostile Iranian Attack on Kuwait pic.twitter.com/YWLxYjUEoe

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) September 3, 2026

As for the Trump administration's moves from here, or the 'what's next?' - Bloomberg on Thursday states the obvious (which is a headline that might as well have been on repeat throughout the whole summer): 'We Are Stalled': US-Iran Conflict Stuck With No End in Sight. The below headline also hints at what could be a conflict lull ahead of midterms, now that each side perhaps 'escalated to de-escalate' this week...

Is Trump ending Iran war? 'Operation Fury' naming ends, Hegseth extends troop plan to 2027 as prez appears tired ahead of midterms

Also, Goldman Sachs Delta One Desk offers the following analysis and market angle [emphasis zh]:

The most important headline overnight may be the WSJ report that "Privately, Trump is having discussions with senior aides about whether to declare the Iran war over, U.S. officials said, noting Trump has said he favors the idea."  Trump said, “I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing.” That feels like US reflexivity becoming explicit. Oil >$90, product markets are tight, gasoline matters politically and interceptor inventories are reportedly stretched. My bias remain that this is an  escalate to de-escalate... that on the other side of Labor day there might be a different approach. Perhaps optimistically,  that makes me think we are closer to the high end than the low end of the near term energy range.

On the other side of the conflict, the Iranians have shown a keen understanding of how energy markets and the growing unpopularity of the war among the American public factor into the November midterms.

He can declare it whatever he wants, but if American warships are still blockading Iranian ports and escorting oil tankers through Hormuz then, um, it's not actually over https://t.co/1b42qkONOb

— Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) September 3, 2026

Al Jazeera highlights the view from Tehran, offering the analysis of Sultan Barakat, Professor of Public Policy at Hamad bin Khalifa University in Qatar:

"I think Iran is just holding their breath to see what happens with the midterm elections in the United States," Barakat told Al Jazeera. "If that election goes against what Trump wishes, then you could see the president being impeached. I think the Democrats will probably ask for a halt on the war and go back to negotiation."

While, "impeached" is a highly unlikely scenario and a bit strong in this context, Barakat pointed out that this is "major gambling on the Iranian side," since "Trump has nothing to lose now. He can actually take actions that were not anticipated in the past, or maybe were far-fetched in the past." Trump himself on Wednesday brushed off midterm election concerns:

Trump on Iran:

I’m not affected by the election. I’m not running. My party is running.

I think my party respects the fact that we are not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon. pic.twitter.com/jF4rYkvupq

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 2, 2026

Prof. Barakat continued by saying "the ultimate losers, really, are still the Gulf States" now "past six months" into the economic strain, and yet still with no unified effort or momentum "to talk directly to the Iranians to come with a solution to the current problem."

More Latest Developments

...via Newsquawk

• US President Trump said regarding Iran that the US is winning that one very big and controls the Hormuz Strait.
• US Secretary of State Rubio instructed all US embassies around the world earlier this week to send an official diplomatic demarche about Operation Economic Outcast to the most senior level of their host governments, according to Axios citing US officials.
• US Ambassador to NATO Whitaker said Iran is a bankrupt country and will not be able to pay anyone in its military, civil service or government, nor subsidise its society. He stated the people of Iran will not be happy with the current state of affairs and should blame their government and regime, adding that they should ask for change and a different way forward.
• US Envoy Witkoff met last weekend with the UAE's national security adviser to discuss next steps on Iran, according to Axios. The report added that "One of the officials said a special message was sent to U.S. diplomatic posts in Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Hong Kong, Doha, London, Berlin and several Central Asian capitals. The missive instructed them to demand that their host governments shut down all branches of Iran's Melli and Saderat banks that are affiliated with the IRGC."
• Iran reportedly threatened the US with a large-scale attack if Israel launches an attack on the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, Reuters reported citing sources.
• Iranian Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said the Strait of Hormuz cannot be opened without Iran’s will, IRIB reported.
• Kuwait Army said it was repelling missile and hostile drone attacks, while local news outlets were attributing the attacks to Iranian aggression and Arab sources said the US base in Kuwait was hit by a strike with smoke reported.
• A senior Yemeni official said Yemen’s armed forces are conducting new military drills in the Red Sea to prepare for a possible confrontation with Israel and the US, IRNA reported.
• Military sources said clashes broke out between Yemeni government forces and Houthis in the Al-Kadha area west of Taizz, Yemen.
• Geopolitics: Ukraine
• Russian President Putin said that Russia and Ukraine should agree first and noted that there is an opportunity to reach a peace agreement. Putin added that contacts with the US continue, adding that Russia is in favour of restoration of relations with the US. He said US President Trump is ready for positive and constructive works and that there are contacts with Ukraine.
• Russian President Putin said attacks on three oil refineries have been repelled, adding that Russia must respond in kind.
• US Ambassador to NATO Whitaker said Russia’s aggressive actions, invasion of Ukraine and prior annexation of Crimea lead the US to believe that Russia can be unpredictable and could be willing to take action against a NATO country. Furthermore, he said recent statements by Russian President Putin do not leave him optimistic, while he added that Ukraine needs to be able to defend itself as long as it takes until the war can be brought to an end.