Iran on Thursday accused the United States of carrying out a “barbaric attack” after strikes near a cancer hospital in the country's southwest forced the evacuation of hundreds of patients. Tehran also warned that it would strike infrastructure across the region if Washington attacked Iranian infrastructure.
The fresh exchange came as fighting between Iran and the United States intensified, raising fears of a wider conflict across West Asia.
Iran Says US Strike Endangered Cancer Patients
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei accused the United States of putting civilian lives at risk. He said US strikes near a cancer hospital forced doctors and staff to evacuate 211 patients receiving chemotherapy. The evacuation included children undergoing cancer treatment.
“This barbaric attack, reminiscent of Israel’s atrocities against healthcare facilities, caused severe suffering and anxiety upon the hospitalised children,” Baqaei posted on X, saying “211 patients undergoing chemotherapy” were evacuated. Iran said the attack disrupted life-saving treatment and created panic among patients and their families.
Tehran Warns of Strong Military Response
Iran warned that it would retaliate if the United States attacked its infrastructure. A spokesman for Iran's military headquarters said the country would respond by targeting infrastructure across the region.
He said that if the US carried out its threats, “all infrastructure in the region” would be “crushed under the steel blows” of Iran’s armed forces. The warning signalled the possibility of a wider regional conflict.
Iran Launches Missile and Drone Attacks
Iran responded on Thursday by launching missiles and drones at Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait. All three countries host US military forces. Authorities in those countries reported no immediate casualties or major damage. The attacks added to the growing military confrontation.
Iraq Condemns Irbil Drone Strike
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi condemned an overnight drone attack on the northern city of Irbil. The attack happened while he was visiting the United States. During the visit, he pledged to disarm non-state armed groups operating in Iraq, including factions backed by Iran. His government criticised the attack as regional tensions continued to rise.
Strait of Hormuz Remains the Main Flashpoint
The conflict continues to centre on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. Iran has continued attacking vessels using a US-controlled shipping corridor.
Washington has threatened to reopen the waterway by force. However, military experts say such an operation would require a much larger military deployment. The standoff has increased concerns over global energy supplies.
Oil Prices Stay High
The conflict has kept global oil markets under pressure. Brent crude traded above $85 a barrel on Thursday. Prices remain more than 15 per cent higher than they were before the conflict began. However, they are still below the highest levels reached earlier in the war.
Traders continue to watch developments in the Strait of Hormuz closely.
Trump Says Talks Are Still Possible
US President Donald Trump said diplomacy remains an option despite the fighting. Speaking at the US Army War College in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, Trump said Iran still wanted to negotiate.
“They don’t like what we’re doing, and they do want to settle. We’ll find out whether or not we settle with them, or we just finish it off,” he said. His remarks suggested that Washington has not completely ruled out a diplomatic solution.
Mediation Efforts Continue
Several countries are still trying to reduce tensions. Pakistan said it continues to facilitate talks between Washington and Tehran. However, officials admitted that diplomacy has become increasingly difficult as the conflict escalates. So far, mediation efforts have failed to stop the fighting.
Trump Announces Release of American Citizen
Trump also said Iran had released an American citizen detained since 2024 as a goodwill gesture. Human rights lawyer Jared Genser identified the person as Dena Karari, a US-Iranian citizen charged with espionage. Iranian authorities had not officially confirmed her release at the time of reporting.