US and Iran Exchange Strikes; American Base in Kuwait Hit by Missiles and Drones
The United States said it struck Iranian military sites over the weekend while Tehran said it responded by targeting an American base in Kuwait. American fighter jets destroyed Iranian radars and drones in response to the downing of a US UAV. Kuwait has come under aerial attack with missiles and drones; the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps says it hit a US base in the country. The exchange directly compromises the proposed US-Iran framework deal that Trump’s envoys had reached with Iranian negotiators earlier in the week and that Trump separately said he was seeking amendments to.
The exchange follows: Friday’s two-hour White House meeting at which Trump left without a “final determination”; Saturday’s Trump “tougher terms” signal seeking amendments to the draft; Sunday’s IRGC deputy statement that the United States “must accept Iran’s rights or continue war”. CENTCOM has been issuing “self-defence” framing for US strikes throughout the war. The proposed framework would extend the ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz with no tolls, lift the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and start nuclear talks; Iranian state media said Tehran would receive billions in frozen funds under the framework. The Kuwait strike is the second IRGC attack on a US air base in Kuwait in a week — the earlier strike came on Thursday 28 May. Either side can still walk the deal back from the brink, but the Monday escalation tier is materially higher than the Friday baseline.