On Thursday, Iranian officials refuted claims regarding an attack on Kuwait’s airport, stating that discussions for a ceasefire with the United States were moving forward.
Iran attributed the damage at Kuwait International Airport to an accidental launch of a U.S. Patriot missile.
Brigadier General Hossein Mobi, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), declared on Thursday that no Iranian missiles were involved in the incident, asserting that their own “investigation” revealed otherwise.
According to Mobi, a malfunctioning U.S. Patriot missile—likely intended to intercept a missile that Iran didn’t actually launch—fell into the airport terminal. He asserted that the mishap stemmed from errors within the U.S. missile defense system.
However, it seems Mobi’s investigators overlooked surveillance footage released on Thursday that reportedly shows an Iranian drone targeting Kuwait’s international airport.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) responded that Mobi’s statements were entirely inaccurate.
CENTCOM stated, “Iran conducted a deliberate attack on a civilian airport using a drone.”
In the wake of the attack, two Iranian diplomats in Kuwait voiced concerns Wednesday, noting it resulted in one fatality and over 63 injuries.
A report from Israel’s Y Net News suggested that Iran’s actions served a critical purpose, even if the Iranian government quickly attempted to downplay it.
The commentary pointed out that Iran’s motivation wasn’t merely to penalize Kuwait for hosting U.S. forces. Instead, there was a clear operational strategy in responding to any potential attack from the U.S. on Iranian soil, hinting that crisis could affect nearby civilian sites. They described the airport as a strategic message.
It went on to say, “Every airport terminal in the Gulf is now a potential instrument for Iran to enhance its influence in a broader conflict.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted in a Thursday segment with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV that while “indirect messages” were still being communicated with the U.S., formal negotiations had not commenced.
Araghchi emphasized that a primary concern was to counter any potential Israeli strike on the Beirut region where Hezbollah operates. He highlighted that “Iran’s military readiness” combined with diplomatic efforts was crucial in deterring Israel.
He also reiterated that if Israel attacked Beirut, it would “effectively end the ceasefire and could invoke an Iranian counteraction.”
Reports indicated that Iran’s elusive supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly injured in a February 28 strike that killed his predecessor, may be relaying messages through third-party statements. Another statement appeared on Thursday to mark the 37th anniversary of Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini’s death.
In this recent message, Khamenei expressed that Iran had triumphed over Israel and the U.S., claiming to be “a beacon of pride for freedom-loving nations globally.”
Khamenei also remarked that Israel was “spreading suspicion and division” within Iran, urging Iranians to resist his theocratic rule yet again.
He cautioned that anyone spreading “pessimism and disillusionment” would be treated as a traitor, endangering their standing in light of “aiding the adversary.”
