Iran-Kuwait relations

Between 1980 and 1988, Iran was at war with neighboring Iraq . Kuwait maintained neutrality during the first two years of this war. However, Kuwait then took the side of Iraq, including because of fears of the possible spread of the Islamic revolution . From 1982 to 1983, Kuwait provided financial support to Iraq, despite threats from the Iranian forces . Kuwait transferred a total of about $ 14 billion to Iraq. When the Iranians destroyed the port in the Iraqi city of Basra , Kuwait granted Iraqis access to their ports ^[1] . After the end of the Iran-Iraq war, relations between Iran and Kuwait remained strained. In 2014, there was a kind of warming in relations: an agreement was reached to start exporting Iranian gas to Kuwait ^[2] , and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait said that relations between the countries were excellent. However, in January 2016, Kuwait supported Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Iran and recalled its ambassador from Tehran ^[3] . In January 2017, the Kuwaiti Parliamentary Committee protested against Iran’s policies, calling it “antagonistic and provocative.” Kuwaiti parliamentarians also added that Iran is creating obstacles to re-establishing any form of cooperation with Kuwait and is not attempting to establish relations between the countries ^[4] .

On July 20, 2017, Kuwait announced the expulsion of 15 Iranian diplomats, among the expelled diplomats - the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait, Alireza Yenayati. The level of Iran’s diplomatic representation in Kuwait has also been reduced to the level of charge d'affaires. The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry explained that this decision was connected with the alleged involvement of Iranian diplomats in terrorist activities ^[5] .

In 2012, the volume of trade between countries amounted to 635.5 million US dollars , and in 2013 523 million US dollars ^[6] .