Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated sharply on Tuesday after US airstrikes on Iran triggered retaliatory attacks and fresh warnings from both sides.
The US military said it carried out strikes on Iran following the crash of a US Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident President Donald Trump blamed on Iran.
Trump later signalled the possibility of further military action, saying he was "close to ordering strikes on Iran." He also accused Tehran of being "all talk and no action" and warned that Iran would "have to pay the price" for delaying efforts to reach a deal.
Iran vowed to respond. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iranian forces "will leave no attack or threat unanswered" and warned, "Leave our region if you want to be safe."
Iran claimed it launched attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan in retaliation for the US strikes. Kuwaiti air defences reportedly opened fire after coming under attack, while Bahrain said it intercepted and destroyed missiles and drones targeting civilians.
Bahrain's military described the attacks as a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law" and said all defence units had been placed on high alert.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country would not surrender in the face of threats. "War is certainly not in the country's interest," he said, adding that Iran would not back down if its "dignity, soil and homeland" were violated.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the country's defence and deterrence capabilities remained intact.
Russia called for restraint and urged both sides to halt military operations. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow was "extremely concerned" about the latest escalation and called for an immediate end to military attacks.
The conflict, which began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has contributed to rising energy prices and economic uncertainty worldwide. Efforts to convert an April ceasefire into a permanent settlement have so far failed.