The United States carried out strikes on Iranian coastal radar and surveillance sites on Saturday after American forces shot down drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchange has further increased tensions in the Gulf region and complicated ongoing efforts to end the war between the two countries.

According to the U.S. military, four Iranian drones were intercepted after they were believed to be targeting maritime traffic in the region. A U.S. official told Reuters that the drones appeared to pose a threat to ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz. Following the interceptions, U.S. Central Command announced on X that American forces struck Iranian surveillance facilities located in Goruk and on QeshmIsland, both strategically positioned along the strait.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps responded by saying it had launched missiles at U.S. military bases in the region as retaliation for the American strikes. The group also claimed it had fired on four tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without Iranian approval.

The conflict quickly spread across the Gulf. Kuwaiti state media reported that the country’s air defence systems intercepted missile and drone attacks from unidentified sources. In Bahrain, warning sirens sounded and authorities urged residents to seek shelter. Iran later stated that it had targeted U.S. bases in both Kuwait and Bahrain with ballistic missiles. However, the U.S. military said six missiles were intercepted and a seventh failed to reach its intended target.

The United States and Iran have been engaged in mostly indirect negotiations aimed at securing an interim agreement to pause the three-month-long war. Under the proposed arrangement, more difficult issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, would be addressed in later talks. Despite these efforts, repeated military clashes have prevented any breakthrough.

Iran has maintained several demands as part of any future agreement. Tehran wants access to billions of dollars in oil revenue currently beyond its reach. It is also seeking waivers on sanctions affecting crude oil exports, the removal of the U.S. blockade on its ports and greater leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Since the war began, Iran has effectively blocked the waterway, which previously handled about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.

The continuing conflict has created political challenges for U.S. President Donald Trump. Rising fuel prices have increased pressure on his administration to find a way to end the war. Speaking to NBC News, Trump said that although most of Iran’s missile and drone production facilities had been destroyed, the country still possessed a significant number of weapons.

"They have some missiles, they have some drones. I would say percentage wise, maybe 21%-22% of their missiles. It's a lot of missiles, but it's not what it was when we first attacked," Trump told NBC News' "Meet the Press" program, according to excerpts released by the network on Friday.

When asked why Iranian leaders appeared reluctant to accept a deal despite the situation facing their country, Trump replied:

"Because they are strong. They're proud. There are things they never thought they'd be doing that they're going to have to do, they've got no choice, and it takes a little while."

The war began on February 28 after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. In response, Tehran fired missiles and drones at Gulf countries hosting American military bases. Iran also sharply reduced shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz.

The fighting has affected global markets and trade routes. Oil prices have risen, while supply chains for various products have faced disruptions. On Friday, the United Nations World Food Programme warned that increasing fuel and transportation costs were pushing millions of people closer to hunger.

Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN on Friday that a peace agreement would depend on the Trump administration releasing $24 billion in Iranian assets. He also warned that the United States would "enter into a dark corridor" if it resumed military attacks.

At the same time, violence has intensified in Lebanon. Iran-backed Hezbollah announced on Friday that it had carried out two attacks against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, including an operation near the recently captured Beaufort Castle. Lebanese security officials also reported Israeli airstrikes on several towns across southern Lebanon.

Iran has continued to support Hezbollah and insists that Israel must withdraw from southern Lebanon. Tehran has also made a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah one of the conditions for any broader agreement with Washington aimed at ending the war.

The latest round of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah began in early March. Hezbollah stated that its actions were intended to support Iran during the ongoing conflict.

This week, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem rejected a U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and the Lebanese government designed to stop the fighting. He argued that the deal did not include an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and noted that Hezbollah had not participated in the negotiations.

Israel has continued conducting strikes in southern Lebanon and has indicated that it will not withdraw its forces or halt operations there despite growing tensions with the United States over the issue.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker and Hezbollah ally Nabih Berri said on Friday that he would support Hezbollah’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon if Israeli forces simultaneously left the territories they currently occupy.

The violence has also affected other parts of the region. Residents of Gaza, northern Israel and Kuwait have faced attacks throughout the week despite U.S.-brokered ceasefires. Trump previously described those arrangements as involving "shooting in a more moderate manner" rather than a complete halt to hostilities.

With fighting continuing on multiple fronts and diplomatic efforts producing little progress, the prospects for a lasting agreement remain uncertain.