How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust

For decades, Iran and Kuwait enjoyed a close bond of loyalty as neighbors, supporting each other through trials and tribulations. However, recent tensions have caused this once harmonious relationship to fracture. Recently, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being "part of the fire of the wicked" on social media, signaling a significant deterioration in their previously amicable ties.

Baghaei's scathing remarks were a reference to Iran's support for Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91) and came as American military bases in Kuwait were under fire by Iranian missiles. This aggression has been ongoing since the beginning of this year, with American bases across the Gulf targeted and significantly damaged. Kuwait has vehemently denied the US launching strikes from its air bases, describing Iran's actions as "criminal aggression".

The breakdown in relations between the two countries was not sudden, but rather a culmination of previous disputes. In the past, their relationship had been strained when Kuwait aligned itself with Iraq following President Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran in 1980. However, tensions eased post-Gulf War, and Iran and Kuwait had maintained diplomatic, commercial, and cultural ties. Yet, the war on Iran (1980-88) under Saddam Hussein changed the landscape of their relationship.