In brief
Vice‑President JD Vance publicly reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to investigate allegations that a U.S. missile strike struck a wedding ceremony in southern Iran, killing at least four people including two children. Iranian authorities, citing shrapnel damage, described the incident as a war crime and demanded accountability. The U.S. Central Command maintains that aircraft never target civilians, and Vance remains skeptical of the claims, insisting a thorough inquiry will occur. The incident follows a backdrop of escalating U.S.‑Iran tensions, with recent hostilities involving air strikes and retaliatory attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. BBC Verify and BBC Persian Forensics confirmed related damage to a telecommunications tower and nearby residential structures, underscoring the complexity of attributing responsibility.
US investigators are looking into allegations that a U.S. missile strike killed four people—including two children—at a wedding ceremony in southern Iran, Vice‑President JD Vance said on Thursday.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) reported shrapnel from a missile hit the ceremony at a home in Sirik on Tuesday, prompting Iranian foreign‑ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei to label it a 'war crime'. The IRCS also claimed 67 people were injured.
U.S. Central Command stated that its aircraft were fired the same day over “attempted attacks” by Iran on U.S. forces and clarified that they have never targeted civilians. Despite this, Vance expressed extreme skepticism about the Iranian claims but confirmed a U.S. investigation would take place.
Following the alleged strike, Iran launched fresh attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The incident sits within a broader conflict that began when the U.S. and Israel struck Iran in February, with fighting continuing for over half a year.
BBC Verify confirmed footage and images taken on Tuesday near the coast of Kuhestak depicting a telecommunications tower hit; other videos from the same day and the following showed severe damage to houses approximately 130 m from the struck tower. BBC Persian Forensics noted the tower was about 112 m from the wedding venue.
