At a time when the prospects for a U.S.–Iran ceasefire agreement remain uncertain, tensions in the Middle East are once again showing signs of escalation. According to Bloomberg, an Iranian missile struck a U.S. military base in Kuwait, injuring several American personnel. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is considering whether to accept Tehran’s latest peace proposal or return to a state of conflict.
Bloomberg reported on Saturday, May 30 citing sources, that over the past 24 hours, several U.S. contractors and active-duty personnel were injured at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.
Sources said Kuwait’s air defense system successfully intercepted a short-range ballistic missile, a “Fateh-110” launched from Iran, but after being destroyed in the air, a large amount of debris fell into the base, causing minor injuries to several U.S. personnel.
In addition to personnel injuries, the falling debris also seriously damaged two MQ-9 Reaper drones. Each drone is worth about $15 million, with a total value of approximately $30 million for both.
Ali Al Salem Air Base is located about 20 miles from the Iraqi border and is one of the U.S. military’s key installations in the Gulf region. During the Iraq War, the base played an important support role in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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As of now, US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not issued any public response regarding the incident.
US military and economic pressure on Iran has not stopped
A U.S. official told the Associated Press that the U.S. military is continuing maritime blockade operations targeting Iranian ports. On Saturday, U.S. forces took action against a cargo vessel flying the Gambian flag, the “Lian Star,” rendering it unable to navigate.
Reports say that after U.S. aircraft carried out the operation, the “Lian Star” is now drifting in the Gulf of Oman.
During the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth commented on the situation, stating that U.S. forces are maintaining a high level of readiness.
Hegseth said: “We are focused on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, readiness and warfighting… Our military posture will be resilient, distributed, and optimized to deny quick, decisive gains through military force.”
He also stated that the U.S. maritime blockade on Iranian ports, which began on April 13, has not been lifted and is exerting real pressure on Iran.
He said: “They want to say that they control the strait, but we do, and everything behind the scenes shows that we are in control when it comes to that, including how the dynamics of the negotiation are coming together.”
Hegseth also revealed that he personally heard Trump discuss the Iran issue during a cabinet meeting.
He said Trump made it very clear that Iran now has two choices: either reach a negotiated agreement, or face another plan already prepared by the U.S. War Department.
On the same day, U.S. Central Command released new photos showing a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B stealth fighter landing on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7). The ship was operating in the Arabian Sea at the time.
CENTCOM also released photos of a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter conducting patrol missions in the Middle East, stating: “US forces remain deployed throughout the region and maintain a high state of alert.”
Iran’s latest peace proposal
As tensions continue to rise, Trump is considering whether to accept Iran’s latest peace proposal.
On Friday, Trump held a meeting with his national security team in the White House Situation Room to discuss Iran and future policy directions, but no decision was announced afterward.
However, Trump said he would soon make a “final decision” on a proposed U.S.–Iran ceasefire arrangement.
According to the details of the plan currently disclosed, both sides would extend the existing ceasefire by 60 days; the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to restore freedom of international navigation; further negotiations would be held on Iran’s nuclear materials; and in exchange, the United States would gradually lift its current blockade on Iran.