Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait at 10:17 pm ET on 27 May 2025, which was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Thursday. CENTCOM described the strike as an 'egregious ceasefire violation' by the Iranian regime.

The Attack and Interception

In a post on X, CENTCOM stated that the ballistic missile launch came just hours after Iranian forces deployed five one-way attack drones that posed a direct threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz. All five drones were intercepted by US forces, which also moved to prevent a sixth drone from launching at an Iranian ground control site in Bandar Abbas.

The Kuwait Army's General Staff had earlier confirmed on Wednesday that the country's air defences were actively engaging hostile missile and drone attacks, adding that any explosions heard by civilians were the result of interception operations.

UAE Condemns the Strike

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday issued a sharp condemnation, characterising the strikes as 'terrorist drone and missile attacks by Iran.' The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), in a formal statement, said the attacks constitute 'a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Kuwait and a threat to its security and stability.' The Ministry further expressed the UAE's full solidarity with Kuwait and its backing for all measures to protect Kuwaiti security.

Trump Rules Out Iranian Control of Strait of Hormuz

The escalation comes as US President Donald Trump on Wednesday firmly ruled out any arrangement that would give Iran control over the Strait of Hormuz, even as his administration continues nuclear negotiations with Tehran. 'The Strait is going to be open to everybody,' Trump said at a White House Cabinet meeting. 'Nobody's going to control it. It's international waters.'

Trump confirmed that Iran had sought control over the critical oil shipping lane during ongoing talks, but warned the United States would not permit it. 'They would like to control it. Nobody's going to control it,' he said.

Why This Matters

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most strategically vital chokepoints, through which roughly 20% of global oil supplies transit daily. A direct ballistic missile attack on Kuwait — a US partner state — represents a marked escalation in regional tensions and raises serious questions about the durability of any ceasefire framework currently in place. Notably, this is the second major Iranian aerial provocation within a single day, following the drone threat near the Strait. The dual-front nature of the attack — targeting both a Gulf neighbour and a critical international waterway — signals a significant shift in Iran's operational posture.

What Comes Next

With US-Iran nuclear talks ongoing and Gulf states on heightened alert, the coming days will test whether diplomatic channels can contain a rapidly deteriorating security situation. Regional partners and Western allies are expected to demand formal accountability for the ceasefire violation from the Iranian regime.