By Gloria Ogbonna
Iranian officials on Thursday firmly denied responsibility for the recent attack on Kuwait International Airport, insisting that ongoing ceasefire communications with the United States remain active despite rising regional tensions.
The Iranian government claimed that the damage inflicted on Kuwait International Airport was not caused by an Iranian strike, but rather by a malfunctioning American Patriot missile that was allegedly launched in error. Iranian authorities argued that the missile defense system failed during an interception attempt and ultimately struck the airport terminal.
Speaking on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohbi rejected accusations that Tehran targeted the Kuwaiti airport. According to Mohbi, an internal Iranian investigation concluded that no Iranian missiles were launched at the airport and that the destruction resulted from what he described as a failure of the U.S. missile defense system.
Mohbi stated that investigators determined the incident was “the result of a U.S. missile defense system error,” maintaining that Iran had no involvement in the attack. His comments came amid mounting international criticism and concerns over the escalating conflict in the Gulf region.
However, U.S. military officials strongly disputed Iran’s claims. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) dismissed the Iranian explanation as completely false and asserted that evidence clearly showed Iran was responsible for the strike.
According to CENTCOM, Iran deliberately targeted the civilian airport using drones in what it described as a calculated and unjustified attack. Surveillance footage released on Thursday reportedly captured an Iranian drone striking the airport facility, directly contradicting Tehran’s version of events.
The attack has already sparked diplomatic consequences. Kuwait expelled two Iranian diplomats on Wednesday following the incident, which left one person dead and at least 63 others injured. Kuwaiti authorities condemned the strike and vowed to pursue accountability for those responsible.
Regional analysts have suggested that the airport attack may have been intended to send a broader strategic message. Israeli media outlet Ynet News argued that Iran was not simply retaliating against Kuwait for hosting American military personnel but was demonstrating its ability to threaten civilian infrastructure across the Gulf region in response to any future attacks on Iranian territory.
According to that assessment, Tehran intended to signal that civilian transportation hubs throughout the Gulf could become vulnerable targets in any wider regional confrontation involving the United States and its allies. The report warned that airports and other critical infrastructure could increasingly become part of Iran’s broader strategy to expand the scope of conflict beyond its borders.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that diplomatic channels between Tehran and Washington remain open, even though formal negotiations have not resumed.
In an interview with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen television network, Araghchi revealed that indirect messages continue to be exchanged between the two countries. While acknowledging that no official talks are currently underway, he suggested that communication efforts aimed at maintaining the fragile ceasefire remain active.
Araghchi also emphasized Iran’s concerns regarding Lebanon and the possibility of Israeli military action against areas of Beirut considered strongholds of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group. He claimed that a combination of Iranian military preparedness, diplomatic engagement, and international pressure had thus far prevented such an operation.
The foreign minister reiterated Tehran’s position that Lebanon must be included in any future ceasefire arrangement involving the United States and Iran. He further warned that Iran had informed Washington that any major Israeli attack on Beirut could effectively collapse the ceasefire and potentially provoke a response from Iranian armed forces.
Adding to the day’s developments, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei—who reportedly assumed leadership following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—released a statement commemorating the 37th anniversary of the death of Iran’s first supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
In the message, Khamenei declared that Iran had emerged victorious against both Israel and the United States and described the country as a source of inspiration for freedom-seeking nations worldwide. He accused Israel of attempting to weaken Iran through psychological warfare, claiming its strategy now relies on spreading fear, doubt, mistrust, and division among the Iranian people.
Khamenei urged citizens to rally behind the country’s leadership and warned that individuals who promote pessimism or undermine public confidence could be viewed as aiding Iran’s enemies. He stated that those found contributing to disillusionment or internal division would be treated as traitors and face punishment under Iranian law.
The conflicting accounts surrounding the Kuwait airport attack, combined with continuing diplomatic exchanges and regional security concerns, underscore the fragile state of the current ceasefire and the persistent risk of broader conflict across the Middle East.
Source Breitbart
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