Iran targets US bases in UAE, Kuwait as Middle East war fears intensify

Iranian forces hit American air bases in the Gulf despite six months of conflict, as Trump administration’s sanctions regime triggers warnings of ‘desperate…

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Iran’s military has struck air bases used by the United States in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, demonstrating continued ability to target American installations in the Gulf despite six months of intensive warfare and a sweeping new sanctions regime. The attacks come as the conflict between Washington and Tehran shows no sign of de-escalation, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining the primary flashpoint for broader regional confrontation.

The Trump administration has characterized its sanctions package as an “economic D-day” aimed at crippling Iran’s economy. However, Israel’s defense chief warned this week that the pressure could push Tehran toward “desperate steps,” signaling concerns that economic desperation may amplify military risk-taking rather than force capitulation.

The escalating strikes have raised fears across the Middle East of a renewed full-scale war, with Reuters reporting that the US-Iran hostilities are spurring anxieties of regional spillover. The conflict shows no indication of abating as both sides maintain active military operations across Gulf waters and surrounding territories.

Separately, US sanctions have disrupted academic pathways for Iranian students, with TOEFL and GRE tests now unavailable in Iran after a sanctions exemption was suspended, threatening university admission deadlines and forcing some applicants to consider costly travel to test centers abroad.

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