Iran–Kuwait relations

Bilateral relations

Iranian-Kuwaiti relations

Iran |
Kuwait
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of Kuwait, Tehran| Embassy of Iran, Kuwait
Envoy
Ambassador Bader Abdullah Al-Munaikh[1]| Ambassador Mohammad Totonchi[2]

Kuwait and Iran have longstanding historical ties spanning hundreds of years, particularly in the pre-oil era. Relations were negatively influenced by the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the Iran–Iraq War in the 1980s. Relations improved after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.[3]

## 20th century

[edit]

Historically, Kuwait had close political, economic, and cultural ties to Iran. In 1961, Kuwait became an independent country. In the 1980s, Kuwait sided with Iraq during the Iran–Iraq War.[4] As a result, Iranian–Kuwaiti relations were damaged and Iran had placed Kuwaiti ships, including tankers, under attack.[5] Kuwait's relations with Iran later improved when Iran denounced Iraq for invading Kuwait in the Gulf War at 1991.[6][3]

## Recent history

[edit]

Iran's foreign policy shifted with the election of more hardline Ahmadinejad in 2005, negatively influenced its relationship with the international community. Things improved when Hassan Rouhani came to power in 2013. In 2014, Kuwait Foreign Undersecretary Khaled Al-Jarallah said it is keen on developing "excellent and historical" relationship with Iran.[7][8]

According to the US government, Kuwait is concerned about Iranian regional ambitions in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon. However, Kuwait continues to maintain friendly relations with Iran.[4] In 2018, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the United States withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal Kuwait opted to maintain formal ties with Iran[9] while Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates voiced strong support for the withdrawal.[4] Previously Kuwait declined to follow Saudi Arabia's lead in severing diplomatic relations following the 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran.[4]

In 2018, Kuwait's announced plans for economic development, such as the "Silk City project", includes developing mutually beneficial economic ties with Iran (similar to Iran's current economic ties with Dubai of the United Arab Emirates).[10][4]

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kuwait provided US$10 million in humanitarian aid to Iran.[11][12]

On March 26, 2022, Iran said that an agreement signed by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to develop the Durra gas field was "illegal" since Tehran has a stake in the field and must be included in any move to operate and develop it.[13]

On April 13, 2022, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait invited Iran to conduct talks on Wednesday to define the eastern border of a combined, energy-rich offshore area, according to the Saudi state news agency SPA.[14]

On July 27, 2023, Kuwait's Oil minister Saad Al Barrak announced plans to begin drilling for gas without first signing an agreement with Iran.[15]

On August 3, 2023, In an escalating feud with Iran, Kuwait along with Saudi Arabia announced that they have “exclusive ownership” of the natural resources in the disputed Durra offshore gas field. Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji stressed that Tehran will pursue its rights over the Durra-Arash gas field if there is “no willingness” from the other side to “reach an understanding.”[15] The same day Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Salem Abdullah al-Jaber Al-Sabah received an official invite to Iran during a meeting with Mohammad Totonchi, the Gulf state’s newly appointed Iranian ambassador. It is expected that the upcoming visit will center around de-escalating tensions over the gas field.[16][17]

## Ajam citizens

[edit]

'Ajam of Kuwait (Persians of Kuwait)[18][19] are Kuwaiti citizens of Iranian origin.[20][21] Historically, Persian ports provided most of Kuwait's economic needs.[22] Marafi Behbahani was one of the first Iranian merchants to settle in Kuwait in the 18th century.[23]

Most Shia Kuwaiti citizens are of Iranian ancestry.[24][25][26][27][28][29][23][30] However, many Kuwaitis of Iranian origin are Sunni Muslims such as the Al-Kandari and Awadhi families of Larestani ancestry.[31] Some Kuwaitis of Iranian Balochi origin are Sunni Muslim.[32][31] Balochi families first immigrated to Kuwait in the 19th century.[33]

The Persian sub-dialects of Larestani, Khonji, Bastaki and Gerashi have influenced the vocabulary of Kuwaiti Arabic.[34]

## See also

[edit]

* 'Ajam of Kuwait
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kuwait)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kuwait names first ambassador to Iran in over six years". Reuters. 2022-08-14. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
2. ^ "Iran appoints new ambassador to Kuwait, Mohammad Totonchi". Tehran Times. 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
3. ^ a b Ehteshami, Anoushiravan; Quilliam, Neil; Bahgat, Gawdat (2017). Security and bilateral issues between Iran and its Arab neighbours. p. 240\. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-43289-2. ISBN 978-3-319-43289-2.
4. ^ a b c d e Albloshi, Hamad H. (2018-05-24). "Kuwait's careful balancing act with Iran, Saudi Arabia". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
5. ^ Wachenfeld, Margaret G. (1988). "Reflagging Kuwaiti Tankers: A U.S. Response in the Persian Gulf". Duke Law Journal. 3 (1). Duke University: 174–202\. doi:10.2307/1372550. JSTOR 1372550.
6. ^ Amiri, Reza Ekhtiari; Soltani, Fakhreddin (2011). "Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait as Turning Point in Iran-Saudi Relationship". Journal of Politics and Law. 4. doi:10.5539/jpl.v4n1p188 - via ResearchGate.
7. ^ "Kuwait's relations with Iran 'excellent, historic' Relations didn't weaken after the KSA-Iranian diplomatic ties were cut on January 2nd 2016". Kuwait News Agency.
8. ^ "Kuwait says relations with Iran are 'excellent'". The National. Archived from the original on 2021-02-11.
9. ^ "Kuwait continues Iran straddle after Trump decision". The Washington Times. Retrieved 2018-07-28.
10. ^ Nader Habibi (4 June 2018). "The Foreign Policy Implications of Kuwait's Vision 2035: Closer Economic Ties with Iran and Iraq". Payvand. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
11. ^ "Kuwait donates $10m to support Iran's coronavirus battle". Middle East Monitor. 2020-03-18. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
12. ^ "Kuwait sends aid to Iran to fight coronavirus". IRNA English. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
13. ^ "Iran says Saudi-Kuwaiti deal on Durra gas development 'illegal'". Reuters. Reuters. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
14. ^ "Kuwait, Saudi Arabia invite Iran to hold talks on gas-rich offshore zone -SPA". Reuters. Reuters. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
15. ^ a b "What is the Kuwaiti-Iranian dispute over the Dorra/Arash gas field?". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
16. ^ "Kuwait Foreign Minister invited to Iran amid tensions over gas field – Middle East Monitor". 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
17. ^ "Kuwaiti foreign minister invited to Iran amid tensions over gas field". Reuters. 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
18. ^ Article in AL-AAN online newspaper Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic) November 2010
19. ^ Article by Waleed aj-Jasim in Al-Watan daily newspaper Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine (in Arabic). 25 May 2013
20. ^ "Policing Iranian Sanctions: Trade, Identity, and Smuggling Networks in the Arabian Gulf" (PDF). pp. 25–27\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
21. ^ Taqi, Hanan (2010). Two ethnicities, three generations: Phonological variation and change in Kuwait (PDF) (PhD). Newcastle University. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
22. ^ J. E. Peterson (2016). The Emergence of the Gulf States: Studies in Modern History. Bloomsbury. p. 107\. ISBN 978-1-4725-8762-6.
23. ^ a b Mohammad E. Alhabib (2010). The Shia Migration from Southwestern Iran to Kuwait: Push-Pull Factors during the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (Thesis). Georgia State University.
24. ^ Butenschøn, Nils August; Davis, Uri; Hassassian, Manuel Sarkis (2000). Citizenship and the State in the Middle East: Approaches and Applications. Syracuse University Press. p. 190\. ISBN 978-0-8156-2829-3.
25. ^ Potter, Lawrence G. (June 2014). Sectarian Politics in the Persian Gulf. Oxford University Press. p. 135\. ISBN 978-0-19-023796-7.
26. ^ Louër, Laurence (2011). Transnational Shia Politics: Religious and Political Networks in the Gulf. Hurst. pp. 46–55\. ISBN 978-1-84904-214-7.
27. ^ Michael Herb (1999). Ethnic Conflict and International Politics in the Middle East (PDF). p. 164\. ISBN 978-0-8130-1687-0. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. "Unlike the Shi'a of Saudi Arabia or Bahrain, the Kuwaiti Shi'a mostly are of Persian descent."
28. ^ Hertog, Steffen; Luciani, Giacomo; Valeri, Marc (2013). Business Politics in the Middle East. Hurst Publishers. p. 71\. ISBN 978-1-84904-235-2.
29. ^ Ende, Werner; Steinbach, Udo (2002). Islam in the World Today: A Handbook of Politics, Religion, Culture, and Society. Cornell University Press. p. 533\. ISBN 0-8014-6489-7.
30. ^ "Political Activism Among the Shi'ah of Kuwait" (PDF). J.E. Peterson. 2009. p. 1.
31. ^ a b Rivka Azoulay (2020). Kuwait and Al-Sabah: Tribal Politics and Power in an Oil State. Bloomsbury. p. 40\. ISBN 978-1-83860-506-3.
32. ^ "The Baluch Presence in the Persian Gulf" (PDF). 2013. pp. 742–743.
33. ^ The Shia Migration from Southwestern Iran to Kuwait: Push-Pull Factors during the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries. Georgia State University. 2012. pp. 71–72.
34. ^ Al-Tajir (2013). Lang & Linguistic in Bahrain Mon. Routledge. p. 11\. ISBN 978-1-136-13626-9.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Kuwait and Iran: Mutual Contact in the Pre-oil Era
* The Shia Migration from Southwestern Iran to Kuwait: Push-Pull Factors during the Late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries
* Rerouting the Persian Gulf: The Transnationalization of Iranian Migrant Networks, c.1900–1940 Archived 2021-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
* Between Modern and National Education: The ‘Ajam Schools of Bahrain and Kuwait Archived 2021-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
* Under the Sails: Maritime Conversations on Trade and Seafaring – Perspectives from Iran and Kuwait
* Under the Sails: Maritime Conversations on Trade and Seafaring – Perspectives from Iran and Kuwait

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Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

Diplomatic posts|

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Conflicts|

* Iranian revolution
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* 2019 Saudi Arabia mass execution
* 2011 alleged Iran assassination plot
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* 2017 Lebanon–Saudi Arabia dispute
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* International Maritime Security Construct
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* 2019 Afif attack
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Iranian relations
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Related|

* Iran–Saudi Arabia football rivalry
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Category:Iran–Saudi Arabia relations

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Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict

Background|

* Iranian revolution
* 1979 Khuzestan insurgency
* Arab separatism in Khuzestan
* Qatif conflict
* 1979 Qatif Uprising

Conflicts|

* Assadist–Saddamist conflict (until 1990)
* Iran–Iraq War
* Action of June 5, 1984
* Qatar–Saudi Arabia diplomatic conflict
* Qatar diplomatic crisis
* 2011 Egyptian revolution
* 2011 Bahraini uprising
* Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain
* insurgency in Bahrain
* First Libyan civil war
* Syrian civil war
* Hezbollah involvement
* Iranian involvement
* Saudi involvement
* Spillover in Lebanon
* Axis of Resistance
* Funding of the Axis of Resistance
* War in Iraq (2013–2017)
* Iranian intervention in Iraq
* Yemeni crisis
* Houthi insurgency
* Operation Scorched Earth
* Operation Blow to the Head
* Yemeni revolution
* Yemeni civil war
* Saudi-led intervention in Yemen
* Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict
* Houthi takeover in Yemen
* Second Libyan civil war

Incidents|

* 1987 Mecca incident
* Khobar Towers bombing
* 2011–2012 Saudi Arabian protests
* 2016 Saudi Arabia mass execution
* Execution of Nimr al-Nimr
* 2016 attack on the Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran
* 2019 Saudi Arabia mass execution
* 2011 alleged Iran assassination plot
* 2015 Mina stampede
* 2017 Lebanon–Saudi Arabia dispute
* 2017–2020 Qatif unrest
* 2018 Riyadh missile strike
* International Maritime Security Construct
* United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231
* May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident
* 2019 Afif attack
* Abha International Airport attacks
* Abqaiq–Khurais attack

Iranian relations
with GCC member states|

* Bahrain
* Kuwait
* Oman
* Qatar
* United Arab Emirates

Related topics|

* Iran and state-sponsored terrorism
* Iran–Israel proxy conflict
* Arab League–Iran relations
* Arab–Israeli alliance
* Warsaw Middle East conference
* Russia–Syria–Iran–Iraq coalition
* Opposition to military action against Iran
* Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
* Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition
* Gulf Cooperation Council
* Iran International
* Shia–Sunni relations
* Shia Islam in Saudi Arabia

Category:Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict
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