Kuwait caught in crossfire as US and Iran exchange fresh strikes

DUBAI — Kuwait came under heightened security alert after Iran and the United States exchanged military strikes following U.S. attacks on Iranian targets, as a fragile ceasefire and diplomatic efforts struggle to contain a widening regional conflict.

Iran said it struck a U.S. air base in retaliation for American strikes over the weekend on its military facilities. Kuwait, meanwhile, reported coming under fire, prompting the activation of its air defense systems amid rising regional tensions.

Oil prices surged by more than 3% following the latest escalation, fueled further by Israel’s order to deploy additional troops into Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group. The developments are part of a broader conflict that reignited after the U.S.-Israel campaign against Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes Tehran still wants to reach a deal, but Iranian officials accused Washington of inconsistent positions and condemned Israeli operations in Lebanon, where a separate ceasefire is also in place.

“Violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The U.S. and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on X.

The conflict, which began with the U.S. and Israel’s military campaign on February 28, has killed thousands, mostly in Iran and Lebanon, and disrupted global energy markets after instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and liquefied natural gas shipping route.

The U.S. military said it struck Iranian air defenses and command infrastructure in response to what it described as aggressive Iranian actions, including the downing of a U.S. drone over international waters.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted a U.S.-used air base in retaliation, though it did not specify the location. Kuwait activated air defenses following reports of missile and drone threats and condemned the attacks as undermining de-escalation efforts in the region.

The U.S. military said it intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at American forces in Kuwait late Sunday. No casualties were reported.

In a social media post, Trump reiterated his belief that Iran is seeking a negotiated settlement.

“I will not yield to threats. I will not be intimidated. I will not be pressured into surrendering my independence of judgment,” he said, as political debate intensified over U.S. strategy toward Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded by accusing Washington of sending contradictory signals that are undermining negotiations.

“The other party is constantly changing its views and putting forward new or contradictory demands… it is natural that this situation will prolong negotiations,” spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.

Iran also said Israeli actions in the region, including operations in Lebanon, cannot be separated from U.S. policy.

Trump faces growing domestic pressure over energy prices and geopolitical risks, including concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, while also navigating divisions within his political base over potential concessions to Tehran.

The U.S. says its main objective remains preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and demands the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen oil revenues abroad.

Shipping stakeholders said any long-term de-escalation agreement would need clear guarantees to restore normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon continues to complicate diplomatic efforts. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered expanded military operations in southern Lebanon and strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which Israel described as Hezbollah strongholds.

The Israeli government accused Hezbollah of violating ceasefire terms agreed in late April.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Netanyahu regarding a proposed framework for gradual de-escalation, according to a U.S. official.