Weapons experts say a U.S. munition likely struck a wedding gathering in southern Iran, rather than the damage being caused by debris from another target. The September 1 explosion in Kuhestak killed at least four people and injured more than 60 others.
Analysis of verified images and videos found that the damage pattern appears consistent with a direct strike. Experts said the weapon was likely an American-made bomb that hit the building where the wedding gathering was taking place.
The wedding site was around 135 metres from a communications tower that U.S. forces were targeting during strikes in the area. The tower was also hit, raising questions about whether the wedding site was mistakenly struck.
Three weapons experts said the evidence pointed toward a U.S. munition rather than an Iranian air-defence missile. However, the exact weapon involved has not been conclusively established, and some fragments found at the scene could not be independently linked to the wedding site.
Washington has denied intentionally targeting civilians. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the military is investigating the incident and wants to determine exactly what happened, including whether American forces were responsible for the casualties.
The incident has intensified concerns over civilian casualties as fighting between the United States and Iran continues. For families in Kuhestak, the investigation offers a chance to establish how the deadly strike happened and whether military mistakes played a role.
