Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied involvement in the recent attack on Kuwait International Airport, instead blaming a malfunction in the U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system for the damage. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi stated that investigations showed the force’s aerospace division did not fire at the airport terminal. He claimed that a Patriot missile malfunctioned after failing to intercept an Iranian missile, causing destruction at the passenger terminal.

The IRGC said the attack on U.S. facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain was retaliation for an overnight American strike on its communications tower on Qeshm Island. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) rejected Iran’s explanation, calling it false. In a statement on social media, CENTCOM asserted that the airport damage was not caused by any U.S. defense system and accused Iran of deliberately targeting the civilian airport using drones.

The conflicting claims have heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, with both sides trading blame over the incident’s cause and intent.