Iran has accused the United States of committing a war crime following a missile strike that killed at least four people and injured 68 others at a wedding in Kuhestak, a coastal city in Hormozgan province. The attack, which occurred late on Tuesday, has intensified fears of escalating hostilities in the region.
The wedding was taking place in a private home when the missile struck, scattering debris and shrapnel. Among the victims were a four-year-old child named Amir-Ali Karimi and a 16-year-old, Mohammad Mollahi. “It’s a terrible thing. I’m extremely worried and upset about what happened – really upset,” Ali Mollahi, the father of the bride, expressed to Mehr News.
Video footage from the scene showed colorful wedding decorations scattered on the ground amid the chaos, with shoes left behind as people fled in panic. Ahmad Nafisi, a deputy provincial governor, stated that first responders arrived quickly and began transferring the injured to hospitals.
In a statement, Iran’s foreign ministry labeled the US strike a “war crime,” asserting that the country “will respond to these savage crimes with firmness.” Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, the chief Iranian negotiator, emphasized that the attack killed families with children, calling the US the “great Satan.” In a dramatic post on X, he said, “If a power acts like Satan, picks targets like Satan and kills like Satan, it’s Satan. Shields a junior Satan that does the same? It’s THE Great Satan.”
The missile strike marked a significant development following a period of relative calm, as US Central Command (Centcom) reported that the attack targeted Iranian military assets such as air defenses and maritime resources. This incident seems to signal a potential return to an aggressive cycle of hostilities between the two nations.
In response, Iran has launched drones and missiles against US military bases across the Middle East, including sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. Iranian military spokesperson Lt Col Ebrahim Zolfaghari promised a “heavier, broader, and more crushing and devastating” retaliation.
Subsequent footage from the aftermath illustrated the destruction: caved-in roofs, blown-out windows, and walls marked by shrapnel. Nearby hospital scenes showed women in wedding attire witnessing the treatment of injured children. One child, injured during the attack, described the chaotic scene: “When we arrived there, an explosion occurred. It was very intense. Bricks, stones, and cement hit me in the face and head, and many others were injured.”
A woman who decorated her hands with henna for the wedding shared her shock on Instagram, saying, “My hands and feet are still shaking.” Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for Centcom, acknowledged reports of civilian casualties but insisted that the US military does not target civilians, in contrast to the actions of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.
This incident follows a history of tragic events; a previous strike in February resulted in the deaths of at least 156 individuals, including over 120 schoolchildren. Investigations suggested that the strike was likely carried out with AI assistance, though the US has maintained that the situation remains under investigation.
Pictures shared by Iranian state media showed remnants of the missile, identified as components of a Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (Slam-Er), manufactured by Boeing. It remains unclear if the wedding venue was directly struck or if the missile impacted nearby, causing collateral damage to the home and its attendees. CCTV footage captured multiple strikes in rapid succession, with separate explosions hitting communication towers nearby.
Recent actions by the US have reportedly aimed to degrade Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz. The strait, a crucial conduit for oil shipping, has been significantly affected as tensions between Iran and the US continue to rise, complicating the geopolitical landscape of the region.
