U.S. Investigates Alleged Missile Strike on Iranian Wedding Amid Rising Tensions
3 September 2026 | PulseWire News
The U.S. military announced it will investigate claims that a missile strike on a wedding in Sirik, southern Iran, killed four people, including two children, after Iranian authorities announced the attack as a war crime.
Iranian officials, citing the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), reported that shrapnel from a missile struck the ceremony, killing 4 and injuring around 67 others. They also named the victims as Zarkhatoon Taheri (50), Kolsum Mallahi Nazhdnia (43), Mohammad Mallahi (16) and Amirali Karimi (4). The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the act as a war crime and called for justice.
Vice‑President John D. Vance told a White House briefing that he was “extremely sceptical” of the Iranian claims but reiterated that the U.S. would conduct an investigation to determine the facts. He emphasized that U.S. missiles are never intended to target civilians.
The alleged strike followed the U.S. and Israel’s joint operation on 28 February designed to pressure Iran over its support of proxy groups in the region. In response, Iran has launched attacks on U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, escalating the conflict’s violence.
BBC Verify corroborates footage from the day showing a telecommunications tower destroyed near the wedding venue, and confirms that the tower was approximately 112 m from the house hosting the ceremony. The damage reported by the IRCS involves a heavily damaged building and houses 130 m away.
Image source: Iranian Red Crescent Society
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