US Probes Strike on Iran Wedding Gathering; Vance Says 'We Care'

Washington has confirmed it is looking into an airstrike in southern Iran that reportedly struck a wedding celebration, with Vice President JD Vance stating the US wants to understand what happened. "We're investigating it because obviously we care. We want to know," Vance told reporters at a White House briefing on Tuesday.

The strike, which occurred in the Sirik county area, is said to have hit a home where dozens had gathered for a wedding. Iranian officials have reported at least four deaths and nearly 70 injuries from the initial attack, with state media later reporting that a fifth person, a 22-year-old woman, had succumbed to her wounds in a hospital.

Vance drew a distinction between US and Iranian military conduct, suggesting that when American forces make errors, they seek to learn from them. The US military has previously stated it "never targets civilians" and is aware of the reports from Iran.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, has condemned the incident as a "war crime," describing it as a brutal bombing of a wedding ceremony. The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has shared images of a damaged building and children receiving medical treatment. The organization has also written to the International Criminal Court, calling for an independent investigation into the attack, citing serious concerns under international humanitarian law.

The injured were taken to a hospital in the nearby city of Minab, where they were reported to be in stable condition. The US has said its strikes on Iran are a response to recent attempted attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) against American forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.