In brief
Vice‑president JD Vance said the U.S. is investigating claims that a missile strike hit a wedding ceremony in southern Iran, killing at least four people, including two children. The Iranian Red Crescent Society calls the attack a war crime, while U.S. Central Command claims its missiles target only military threats and never civilians. Iran has launched fresh attacks in retaliation, and U.S. forces fired missiles in response to Iranian attacks on U.S. bases. BBC Verify confirms wreckage near the wedding site and damaged homes within a 130‑meter radius. The conflict has intensified since the joint U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran in February.
US military investigating claims that a missile strike hit a wedding ceremony in southern Iran, killing at least four people, including two children.
Vice‑president JD Vance told a White House briefing that he is extremely skeptical of the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s allegations but confirmed that the U.S. will investigate the incident.
Iran’s spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei called the attack a war crime, while U.S. Central Command said its missiles were fired in response to attacks on U.S. forces and never target civilians.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society reports that 67 people were hurt and four were killed – Zarkhatoon Taheri (50), Kolsum Mallahi Nazhdnia (43), Mohammad Mallahi (16) and Amirali Karimi (4). Iranian state media also said a 22‑year‑old woman died in hospital soon after.
Iran has since launched fresh attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, while U.S. forces fired on Iranian targets that same day.
BBC Verify confirmed a destroyed telecommunications tower near the wedding site and that houses about 130 m north of the tower were heavily damaged.
Fighting has been ongoing since the joint U.S.‑Israeli strike on Iran on 28 February.
