Iran retaliates against US targets after strikes reportedly kill civilians at wedding

Iran has launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks against US-linked military targets across the Middle East following new American strikes on Iranian military facilities that Iranian authorities said killed civilians, including people attending a wedding.

The latest exchange has sharply escalated tensions between Iran and the United States, with Iranian forces targeting American interests in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq on Wednesday.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched a heavy ballistic missile attack against US military bases in Jordan, while Iranian state media reported drone attacks targeting a US base in Bahrain.

Jordan’s armed forces said its air-defence systems responded to 13 ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace. Ten were intercepted, while three landed in remote areas, according to initial reports.

Two US officials also told Reuters that initial assessments indicated there were no casualties from the Iranian attack on US facilities in Jordan.

Bahrain said its forces intercepted and destroyed Iranian drones, while Kuwait reported that its air-defence systems were responding to a hostile drone attack.

In Iraq’s Kurdistan region, the IRGC said it carried out combined missile and drone strikes against US bases in Erbil. Iranian authorities claimed the attacks destroyed a maintenance centre, warehouses and other military equipment.

The claims concerning the extent of damage and possible casualties in Iraq had not been independently verified.

The Iranian retaliation came after the US military conducted a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets on Tuesday.

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The US Central Command said its forces struck IRGC air-defence systems, radar sites, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

According to the US military, the operation was aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities that could be used to threaten American forces and commercial shipping.

The strikes followed renewed tensions around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, where Washington has accused Iran of attempting to lay sea mines and attacking US military positions.

Iran, however, condemned the American operation and accused Washington of causing civilian casualties.

The Iranian Red Crescent said five people were killed and about 50 others wounded after shrapnel from a US missile struck a home where a wedding celebration was taking place near Sirik in Hormozgan province.

Iranian media reported that a four-year-old child was among those killed, while Iran’s official IRNA news agency, citing a provincial official, said 68 people were wounded.

IRNA separately reported that seven people were killed and eight others injured in US missile strikes on three locations in Khuzestan province.

The reported casualties have not been independently verified.

The US military has also not acknowledged deliberately targeting the wedding gathering.

CENTCOM spokesman Tim Hawkins said the US military does not target civilians, maintaining that American operations are directed against military objectives.

The conflicting accounts have made the reported wedding strike one of the most contentious issues arising from the latest US-Iran confrontation.

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Iran has presented the incident as evidence of the civilian consequences of American military operations, while Washington maintains that its campaign is focused on Iranian military infrastructure.

The latest confrontation is closely linked to the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.

The waterway is one of the world’s most important energy routes, with roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies passing through it under normal circumstances.

The security situation has deteriorated significantly since the conflict intensified, with shipping companies becoming increasingly cautious about sending vessels through the strait.

Recent shipping data showed a sharp decline in the number of commercial vessels transiting the waterway, reflecting concerns over missile attacks, sea mines and the wider military confrontation.

The situation has raised fears of a major disruption to global oil supplies, particularly if Iran attempts to restrict shipping through the strait.

Iran has repeatedly warned that if it is prevented from exporting its own crude oil, it could take measures that would affect other oil exports from the Gulf.

Any prolonged disruption could send crude oil prices significantly higher and increase fuel, transportation and electricity costs in countries that depend on Middle Eastern energy supplies.

The impact is already being felt in energy markets, with oil prices rising sharply as traders assess the risk of further disruption.

The crisis could also affect liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from major producers in the Gulf, adding further pressure to international energy markets.

The latest Iranian attacks came despite a strong warning from US President Donald Trump, who had threatened Tehran with a more severe response if Iran attacked American personnel or interests.

Trump warned that the next US response could come at a “much harder and higher level” and said an even larger attack was “waiting in the wings”.

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Iran nevertheless proceeded with its retaliation.

Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that countries supporting or facilitating US military operations could also face Iranian attacks.

He said countries cooperating with Washington should expect what he described as “more severe, more widespread and destructive responses”.

The warning has increased concerns among countries that host US military bases across the Middle East.

American forces maintain a significant military presence in countries including Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Several of those countries have attempted to avoid becoming direct participants in the conflict while maintaining security cooperation with Washington.

The Iranian attacks nevertheless demonstrate the difficulty of keeping the conflict contained once missiles and drones begin targeting US military facilities across multiple countries.

The latest confrontation also highlights the military capabilities available to both sides.

Iran continues to possess a large arsenal of ballistic missiles and drones, allowing it to strike targets across much of the Middle East.

The United States, meanwhile, maintains substantial air and naval capabilities in the region and has increasingly focused its attacks on Iran’s air-defence systems, radar networks, maritime infrastructure and missile-related capabilities.

The result has been a dangerous cycle of escalation.

The US carries out strikes against Iranian military targets, Iran retaliates against US-linked facilities, Washington threatens a stronger response, and Tehran warns that it will expand its attacks if American operations continue.

The possibility of the confrontation spreading further has raised concerns among governments across the Middle East.

Countries hosting American troops face the difficult task of protecting their populations and infrastructure while avoiding direct involvement in the conflict.

The humanitarian consequences are also becoming increasingly serious.

Iranian authorities have reported civilian deaths and injuries from US strikes, while governments in countries targeted by Iran have had to activate air-defence systems to intercept incoming missiles and drones.

Even when most incoming weapons are intercepted, the threat creates risks for civilians living near military facilities and other strategic targets.

The conflict is also placing additional pressure on an already fragile regional economy.

A prolonged crisis around the Strait of Hormuz could increase shipping insurance premiums, disrupt supply chains and raise the cost of crude oil and natural gas.

For countries heavily dependent on imported petroleum products, higher international oil prices could translate into increased fuel prices and inflation.

The consequences could extend beyond the Middle East if the disruption becomes prolonged.

The latest escalation has also complicated diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a wider war.

Neither Washington nor Tehran appears willing to back down, with both sides presenting their military actions as necessary responses to threats posed by the other.

The United States says it is defending its forces and protecting commercial shipping, while Iran maintains that it is responding to American aggression and defending its sovereignty.

The reported civilian deaths at the wedding in southern Iran have added an emotional and political dimension to the conflict that could make de-escalation more difficult.

Iranian officials are likely to use the reported incident to strengthen domestic support for retaliation, while Washington is expected to maintain that its military operations are directed at Iranian military capabilities rather than civilians.

The immediate concern is whether the latest exchange will remain limited or trigger a broader regional war involving Iran, the United States and their respective allies.

With US military personnel stationed across the Gulf and Iran capable of launching missiles and drones against targets throughout the region, any miscalculation could rapidly widen the conflict.

For now, Tehran has demonstrated that it is prepared to retaliate despite Washington’s warnings, while US President Donald Trump has signalled that the United States is prepared to escalate further if American forces or interests are attacked.

The renewed fighting has therefore left the Middle East facing another period of heightened uncertainty, with civilian casualties, attacks on military bases, threats to shipping and rising oil prices all adding to concerns about where the conflict goes next.

Iran retaliates against US targets after strikes reportedly kill civilians at wedding

‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Author Robert Kiyosaki Reveals He Is $1.2 Billion in Debt

The 79-year-old financial guru says he carries over a billion dollars in debt tied to real estate investments, but his ex-wife clarifies it is not personal liability and forms part of a deliberate wealth-building strategy.

Robert Kiyosaki, the author of one of the best-selling personal finance books of all time, has revealed that he is carrying a staggering $1.2 billion in debt tied to his real estate investments. The 79-year-old “Rich Dad Poor Dad” author disclosed the figure during a summer appearance on the “Get Rich Education” podcast, stating plainly, “So, I’m a billion two in debt.” He added that people “should not do what I do, right?” but noted that he has studied debt since 1974 and that using it as a wealth-building tool requires proper knowledge.

While the eye-popping number has generated headlines worldwide, Kiyosaki’s ex-wife and long-time business partner, Kim Kiyosaki, has clarified that the figure does not represent money the author personally owes. She explained that the couple’s real estate portfolio includes approximately 1,500 apartment units held with partners, and the borrowing is attached to the properties themselves rather than to Kiyosaki personally. Her estimate for his personal share is far smaller—Vanity Fair calculated it could be between $30 million and $60 million, working backward from his claim of earning roughly $3 million a year.

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The massive debt pile is a product of Kiyosaki’s intentional investment strategy rather than financial distress. As his properties rise in value, he borrows additional money against the increased equity and treats the loan proceeds as tax-free income, since loans are not taxed the way earnings are. He also places individual investments into separate limited liability companies, insulating them from one another if one runs into trouble—a structure he calls “firewalls.” “If it all comes to hell, you can talk to my attorney,” Kiyosaki told Vanity Fair. “Firewalls—that’s the way the rich play the game.”

Kim Kiyosaki suggested her former husband deliberately uses the billion-dollar figure to grab attention before explaining his position on investment debt. “He loves to say things that shock,” she told Vanity Fair, referring to his effort to explain “why investment debt is good.”

Financial experts are divided on the merits of Kiyosaki’s approach. David A. Perez, a multifamily real estate investor and founder of Tax Maverick AI, called it “a great strategy” and said carrying large amounts of property-backed debt is “actually very normal.” Perez noted that borrowing against property equity generally produces a tax-free loan because the property has not been sold, while warning that additional borrowing can increase mortgage payments and interest costs and reduce cash flow. However, John Poole, founder of Scottsdale-based consultancy JPTD Partners, offered a more cautious assessment. “I think there’s good debt and there’s bad debt, and then there’s $1.2 billion of debt, which you better know exactly what in the world you’re doing,” he told The Post. “Leverage works beautifully on the way up, and if it’s not continuing on that way up, then it’s like a chainsaw financially coming down.” Poole warned that the strategy cannot continue indefinitely, adding, “Kiyosaki may call this the ‘Rich Dad debt,’ but for the average investor, it could turn out to be ‘Poor Dad bankruptcy’ really quickly.”

The revelation has also brought attention to the gap between Kiyosaki’s public advocacy for Bitcoin and gold and his portfolio’s dependence on available credit. The loans tied to his $1.2 billion debt are secured by real estate, not by his crypto or metal holdings. This leaves an odd tension: he warns that cheap credit will wreck the economy while his own portfolio depends on that same credit staying available. History has shown the risks—one of his companies, Rich Global LLC, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2012 following a $24 million judgment against it. Kiyosaki built his financial education empire around “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” first self-published in 1997 and sold over 44 million copies. The book contrasts the financial lessons he learned from his biological father, whom he calls the “Poor Dad,” with those he says he learned from the father of his childhood best friend, the “Rich Dad.”

‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ Author Robert Kiyosaki Reveals He Is $1.2 Billion in Debt

Trump threatens to leave ‘very little’ of Iran if Tehran retaliates

US President Donald Trump has threatened to launch an even more devastating attack on Iran if Tehran retaliates against the latest US military strikes near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Trump issued the warning on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, shortly after the United States launched a fresh wave of strikes against targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the operation as a “large and powerful” attack, saying it was carried out in response to what he described as Iran’s failed attempt to deploy sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

He also cited Iran’s recent missile attack on a US military base in Jordan, saying Tehran had fired eight missiles and that all eight were successfully intercepted.

Trump said the Strait of Hormuz currently had no mines, claiming they had either been removed or detonated.

The US president then issued a direct warning to Tehran, saying Iran would be hit again “at a much harder and higher level” if it retaliated against the latest American operation.

Trump went further, warning that an even bigger attack was already being prepared.

He said the larger operation was “waiting in the wings” and warned that, once carried out, “there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The threat came as the US military confirmed that it had begun striking IRGC targets in Iran, with the United States saying the operation followed recent attempted attacks by Iranian forces against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American service members deployed in the region. (AP News)

The latest strikes represent a sharp escalation between Washington and Tehran after US forces attacked Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

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The US said the earlier operation was aimed at preventing Iranian forces from using the launchers to deploy sea mines and threaten shipping through the waterway.

Iran responded by firing missiles towards US military positions in Jordan. Jordan said it intercepted incoming missiles, while the United States also said the Iranian attack had been successfully countered.

The renewed confrontation has significantly increased concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for global oil shipments.

The crisis intensified further after two supertankers carrying Saudi crude were struck by unidentified projectiles while passing through the strait near Khasab, Oman, on Monday.

The vessels, the Saudi-flagged Sidr and the Liberian-flagged Senegal Prosperity, had each loaded about two million barrels of Saudi crude at the Juaymah terminal before the incidents. No casualties were reported. (Reuters)

The attacks on the tankers have raised fresh concerns about the safety of commercial vessels and the potential impact of the conflict on international energy supplies.

Oil prices rose sharply on Tuesday as markets reacted to the renewed US-Iran conflict and the growing risk of prolonged disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude climbed above $94 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate also recorded a significant increase. (AP News)

The escalation is also putting pressure on diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the Middle East.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has maintained that Tehran is willing to pursue a negotiated solution, but he has called on Washington to honour commitments under an interim understanding reached earlier in the conflict.

Pezeshkian has indicated that Iran would reciprocate if the United States returned to its commitments under the agreement, while Tehran has continued to condemn the latest American strikes. (Al Jazeera)

Iran has nevertheless warned that the United States should expect consequences for the latest attacks. An IRGC spokesperson said severe punishment awaited the attackers and warned that Washington would regret the strikes. (The Independent)

The conflicting signals from Tehran — threats of retaliation alongside calls for renewed negotiations — have added uncertainty over the next stage of the confrontation.

The situation is particularly sensitive because the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the global oil market. Any sustained disruption to the waterway could affect crude supplies, shipping costs and fuel prices in countries far beyond the Middle East.

Attempts by regional powers, including Qatar and Oman, to mediate and restore stability around the waterway have so far failed to prevent the latest escalation. The attacks on commercial vessels have further complicated efforts to reopen the route safely. (Reuters)

Trump’s latest warning therefore raises the possibility of a much broader US-Iran military confrontation if Tehran launches another attack in response to the American strikes.

For now, Washington says its operations are aimed at countering threats to US forces and commercial shipping, while Tehran insists that it will defend its interests and respond to what it regards as American aggression.

The coming days could determine whether the latest exchange remains a limited confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz or develops into a wider regional conflict, with potentially significant consequences for global oil prices, international shipping and Middle East security.

Trump threatens to leave ‘very little’ of Iran if Tehran retaliates