US-Iran News LIVE: Iranian missile debris injures Americans at Kuwait air base; Hajj airfares soar for Muslims
Debris from an Iranian missile intercepted by Kuwait injured American personnel at Ali Al Salem air base, escalating tensions amid stalled US-Iran nuclear talks, while rising airfares due to disrupted Gulf traffic threaten this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Hardline Iranian lawmaker Hamid Rasaee criticized nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warning against concessions, as US and Iranian forces exchange strikes and Tehran denies US claims of mine-laying in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian missile debris struck the Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait within the past 24 hours, injuring several Americans despite Kuwaiti air defenses intercepting the Fateh-110 ballistic missile. The incident follows a US attack near Bandar Abbas, which Iran claims prompted the strike. US-Iran negotiations remain stalled, with President Donald Trump’s administration disputing Tehran over the unfreezing of Iranian funds and nuclear terms. Iranian officials reject US demands to transfer enriched uranium abroad, while control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key flashpoint. Iran insists on strategic leverage over the waterway, though the US has not confirmed reports of Iranian mine-laying, with underwater drones detecting suspicious objects but no definitive identification. Hardline Iranian lawmaker Hamid Rasaee publicly rebuked nuclear negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, calling negotiations a mistake and warning of Israeli advances in southern Lebanon. Rasaee accused Ghalibaf of failing to secure Iranian assets or a ceasefire, invoking past concessions under former President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif. The ongoing conflict has disrupted Gulf air traffic, driving jet fuel prices to records and increasing Hajj airfares by 20–50% for Muslims from Egypt, Pakistan, India, and Central Asia. In Egypt, package deals rose 30%, while Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways raised fares by 40% for Russian and Central Asian pilgrims, straining the annual ritual’s affordability. Iranian citizens face worsening medicine shortages, layoffs, and stalled trade as economic pressures mount. Meanwhile, coordination doubts persist between Ghalibaf and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, complicating diplomatic efforts. The US military has not confirmed Iranian mine presence in the Strait of Hormuz, despite ongoing searches using drones and surveillance aircraft. Tensions remain high as both sides exchange strikes and negotiations falter.
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