How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust

When Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being “part of the fire of the wicked” on social media last week, it was apparent that the previously amicable relationship between the two countries had now soured. “Iran has always adhered to good neighbourliness, but the smoke of ingratitude and the absence of foresight will blind the eyes of the ungrateful,” Baghaei warned. His comments were a reference to the support Iran lent Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91), and were made as American military bases in Kuwait came under fire by Iranian missiles. Since the start of this year’s aggression, American bases across the Gulf have been targeted by Iran, which has long preferred asymmetrical warfare to direct confrontation, and have been significantly damaged as a result. Kuwait has denied that the USA has launched strikes from air bases on its territory, and its defence ministry spokesperson described Iran’s actions as “criminal aggression". Before recent tensions, relations between the two states had been tested over the decades. They took a downward turn when Kuwait aligned itself with Iraq after President Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980, but became more cordial in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Iran and Kuwait had long maintained diplomatic, commercial and cultural ties, but Saddam’s war on Iran (1980-88) changed that. Read more: How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah at Bayan Palace in Kuwait City, 24 June 2026 (Eric Lee/Pool/AFP)