Iran Claims Patriot Missile Hit Kuwait Airport, US Denies Attack on Its Military Vessel

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated after Tehran claimed that damage at Kuwait Airport was caused by a Patriot interceptor missile that missed its target. Meanwhile, the US military has denied Iranian accusations that it attacked an American military vessel in the Gulf of Oman. The statement came after more than 30 ballistic missiles were reported to have struck Kuwaiti territory on Wednesday (3/6) local time. The United States Central Command (Centcom) described the strike as a deliberate and unjustifiable act. The incident resulted in one death and approximately 60 injuries in the Kuwait Airport area. Iran rejected the accusation that the airport damage was entirely due to its attack. Tehran stated that some of the damage originated from a Patriot interceptor missile that failed to intercept its target and fell in the airport area. Simultaneously, Iran claimed to have targeted a US military vessel that allegedly served as a command and control centre in the waters near the Gulf of Oman. However, Centcom denied any attack on the American vessel. Kuwait has long been a target of Iranian rhetoric that accuses the Gulf state of being used as a launch base for American missiles. The Kuwaiti government has repeatedly stressed that it does not permit its territory to be used for military operations in the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran. The latest developments have also sparked debate in the US Congress. During a hearing, Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks questioned whether President Donald Trump’s administration had anticipated the impact of strikes on Iran that could provoke retaliatory attacks against the ‘Uncle Sam’s’ allies in the Middle East. In response, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that the government was prepared for any possible response from Iran. ‘We have been prepared for any response,’ Rubio told members of Congress. Rubio also claimed that the American military operation, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, had achieved its objective of degrading Iran’s conventional military capabilities. Amid rising tensions, Iran confirmed that communications with the US regarding nuclear negotiations were still ongoing. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said contacts between the two countries had not been severed, although no significant progress had been made. ‘We are still exchanging messages with the American side, but there has been no progress in the negotiations,’ Araghchi told Lebanese media. US President Donald Trump stressed that a deal could only be reached if Iran halted its nuclear activities and ballistic missile programme. However, Tehran stated that the missile programme is a red line that cannot be negotiated. Iran also emphasised that any agreement must include a guarantee to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Meanwhile, talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials have resumed in Washington to discuss efforts to maintain the fragile ceasefire in the region.