IRAN ACCUSES KUWAIT OF ATTACKING IRANIAN BOAT, DETAINING FOUR CITIZENS IN PERSIAN GULF
Iranian authorities have accused Kuwait of carrying out an unlawful maritime operation in the Persian Gulf, alleging that Kuwaiti forces attacked an Iranian vessel and detained four Iranian nationals in what Tehran described as a deliberate attempt to escalate tensions in the region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, condemned the incident and accused Kuwait of violating international norms.
According to Araghchi, “In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained four of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran.”
The Iranian minister further demanded the immediate release of the detained nationals, warning that Tehran reserved the right to respond to the incident.
The allegation adds fresh strain to already tense relations across the Gulf region, where maritime security concerns and drone warfare accusations have continued to heighten geopolitical instability.
Iranian authorities did not immediately provide additional details regarding the vessel involved or the exact circumstances surrounding the reported detention.
The latest accusations come months after Kuwait alleged that Iran launched drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure despite an existing ceasefire framework between Iran and the United States.
According to reports by Al Jazeera, Kuwait’s Defence Ministry spokesman, Colonel Saud Abdulaziz al-Otaibi, claimed the country’s air defence systems intercepted multiple incoming drones during what he described as “an intense wave of hostile Iranian criminal attacks.”
Al-Otaibi reportedly stated that several drones targeted strategic locations, including oil facilities and power stations in southern Kuwait, causing significant material damage to oil infrastructure, electricity facilities, and water desalination plants.
Emergency responders and firefighting teams were subsequently deployed, while environmental authorities monitored air quality and dismissed fears of any radiation leak.
The latest dispute involving the alleged maritime attack and detention of Iranian citizens is expected to further inflame tensions in the Gulf, where fragile ceasefire understandings and competing military claims continue to fuel uncertainty.
