ALBAWABA- Iran has accused Kuwait of unlawfully attacking an Iranian boat and detaining four Iranian nationals in the Persian Gulf, escalating tensions between the two countries amid a fragile regional ceasefire.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Kuwait’s actions in a post on X, describing the incident as an illegal act intended to inflame tensions between Tehran and Kuwait City.
“In a clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained four of our citizens in the Persian Gulf,” Aragachi said. “This illegal act took place near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran. We demand the immediate release of our nationals and reserve the right to respond.”
The remarks came a day after Iran’s Foreign Ministry formally requested consular access to the detainees through its embassy in Kuwait.
The dispute stems from an incident on May 1, when Kuwaiti security forces intercepted a group attempting to infiltrate Bubiyan Island, Kuwait’s largest island in the northern Persian Gulf near the Iraqi and Iranian borders.
According to Kuwait’s Interior Ministry, six armed individuals allegedly linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the island aboard a specially chartered fishing vessel. Kuwaiti forces intercepted the group, arresting four suspects while two others reportedly escaped. One Kuwaiti serviceman was injured during the operation.
Kuwaiti authorities identified the detainees as two IRGC naval captains, one naval lieutenant, and one army lieutenant. Officials said the suspects confessed to being assigned by the IRGC to carry out “hostile acts” on the island, which hosts strategic infrastructure, including a Chinese-funded port project.
In response to the incident, Kuwait summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Toutounchi and delivered a formal protest note, describing the operation as a “blatant violation” of Kuwaiti sovereignty. Kuwait also called on Tehran to halt such activities and said Iran would bear responsibility under international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The exchange underscores growing tensions in the Gulf despite the ongoing U.S.-Iran ceasefire arrangements. Bubiyan Island has gained increased strategic importance because of its location near key shipping routes and regional military activity.
