How loyalty between Iran and Kuwait gave way to mistrust

What Happened

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, accused Kuwait of being 'part of the fire of the wicked' on social media last week, marking a sharp deterioration in the previously amicable relationship between the two countries. The comments referenced Iran's historical support for Kuwait during the Gulf War, while U.S. military bases in Kuwait reportedly came under fire from Iranian missiles. Kuwait's defense ministry spokesperson denied that the U.S. had launched strikes from its territory and condemned the Iranian actions as 'criminal aggression.' The article traces the ebb and flow of ties, from Kuwait's backing of Iraq during the 1980–1988 Iran–Iraq War to Iran's post–Gulf War assistance, including hosting refugees and sending a 47-person team to cap 28 burning oil wells.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The breakdown signals a potential realignment in Gulf geopolitics, as Iran's willingness to directly strike U.S. assets in Kuwait—and publicly berate its government—overrides decades of diplomatic goodwill. Kuwait's perceived complicity could draw it deeper into the Iran–U.S.–Israel shadow war, testing its balancing act between Washington and Tehran and potentially fracturing the fragile détente Iran has maintained with Gulf Arab neighbors.

Watch For

Monitor whether Iran escalates kinetic or rhetorical pressure on Kuwait, including further missile or drone attacks targeting U.S. installations. Watch for Kuwait's diplomatic countermeasures, such as expelling Iranian diplomats or reinforcing its air defenses, and any U.S. retaliatory strikes or policy shifts regarding its military posture in Kuwait. Regional mediation efforts by Oman or other Gulf states may also emerge.