Maryam and Ziaeddin were meant to spend the most memorable night of their lives surrounded by their loved ones. They had no idea that their wedding would become the darkest moment of their lives and one of the most painful nights of the war for Iranians.

On the evening of Tuesday 1 September, around 350 people gathered in Kuhestak, in Sirik county, on the east coast of Iran’s Hormozgan province, for the wedding of Maryam Mallahi and Ziaeddin Khoshrish.

In keeping with local tradition, the celebration was held in two houses: the men gathered at a relative’s home, while the women waited at the bride’s family home. Coloured lights had been put up, the guests wore traditional clothing, and everyone was waiting for the bride and groom to arrive.

At around 9pm, as the United States launched a new wave of attacks across southern Iran, a series of explosions was heard in Kuhestak.

Initial reports indicated that a telecommunications tower and facilities near the pier had been hit. The tower stood less than 200 metres from the wedding venue. Moments later, a projectile struck the house where the women and children had gathered, tearing through its roof.