Iran accuses US of striking wedding gathering in Sirik, five dead

Iranian officials have claimed that a United States airstrike hit a wedding celebration in the coastal town of Sirik, killing five people, Al Jazeera reported. The Iranian foreign ministry said the attack also injured at least 63 others in nearby Kuhestak, among them women and children. The ministry described the incident as a "deliberate act of aggression" and vowed to respond.

Sirik lies on the Persian Gulf near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil shipments pass. The town has been the focus of previous military activity, as the United States has periodically targeted Iranian facilities it says are linked to missile development or support for regional militant groups. The latest claim adds to a series of accusations that have heightened diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington.

The United States has not confirmed involvement in the Sirik incident. In past incidents, Washington has sometimes acknowledged strikes that were aimed at Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) assets, while at other times it has declined to comment, citing operational security. The pattern reflects a broader escalation that began after a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf in 2024, which the US attributed to Iranian-backed actors. In response, the US launched limited strikes on Iranian maritime and air‑defense installations, prompting Tehran to label the actions as violations of international law.

Iran’s claim that the bombing hit a civilian wedding underscores the human cost of the ongoing proxy conflict. Local residents described the scene as chaotic, with families searching for missing relatives amid the wreckage of tents and makeshift decorations. Humanitarian groups have called for an independent investigation, warning that civilian casualties could fuel further retaliation and destabilise an already volatile region.

The incident arrives as diplomatic channels remain strained. Recent talks in Geneva aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement have stalled, and both sides have exchanged sharp rhetoric. Analysts note that any escalation involving civilian targets could complicate future negotiations and increase pressure on regional actors to intervene or mediate.

While the full details of the strike remain contested, the reported loss of life and injuries have sparked protests in several Iranian cities, with citizens demanding accountability and an end to foreign military incursions. The episode highlights how quickly localized violence can ripple through broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.