Iran conducted funeral rites on Thursday, September 3, for victims of a U.S. airstrike that hit a coastal residence hosting a wedding in the village of Kuhestak. Iranian authorities initially reported four deaths and nearly 70 injuries; a fifth victim, a 22‑year‑old woman, later died in hospital, bringing the total death toll from the latest U.S. attack to 18, including a 4‑year‑old child identified as Amir‑Mohammad Karimi.
The U.S. strike occurred on the night of September 1, following a pause in Persian Gulf hostilities after President Donald Trump halted two weeks of intensive air operations in July. Iran responded with missile and drone launches on Wednesday and early Thursday, targeting a U.S. base in Kuwait and striking locations in Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Bahrain. Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted the incoming projectiles.
The escalation lifted Brent crude futures for the fourth consecutive day, pushing prices above $96 a barrel, levels not seen since July. The Strait of Hormuz, which transports roughly 20% of global oil and gas shipments, remains a focal point of market concern.
U.S. armed forces acknowledged Iranian reports of civilian casualties but asserted that civilians were never a target. Iranian state media quoted a reporter describing the child’s body as that of a martyr and a local resident lamenting the loss of a wedding celebration.
The incident underscores the broader economic strain on Iran, which has faced a prolonged U.S. blockade, and highlights the sensitivity of oil markets to geopolitical developments in the region.
