Iran Hopes for Growing Ties with Kuwait

In a message to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Monday, Rouhani congratulated the Kuwaiti people and government on the National Day.

He also expressed hope that relations between the two brotherly and Muslim countries would further grow in various fields in light of rapport, cooperation, and mutual efforts.

Kuwait’s National Day is celebrated on February 25 each year. This holiday marks the day when Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah ascended to the throne in 1950.

Kuwait is a member of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council that has excellent historical and developing relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Iran and Kuwait have developed closer political relations in recent years, and have held several sessions of a Joint Political Committee.

In March 2018, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson hailed the positive remarks by deputy prime minister of Kuwait about the initiatives to ensure lasting relationship between Iran and the Persian Gulf states.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran always regards relations with the neighbors as its top foreign policy priority for cooperation, and believes that a developed, strong and safe region would be achieved only through collective cooperation among all neighbors,” Bahram Qassemi said in response to the Kuwaiti deputy prime minister’s emphasis on close relations with Iran.

Highlighting the significance of collective action to ensure development and economic progress in the regional countries in the contemporary era, Qassemi also said Iran has been always prepared for such joint efforts.

His comments came after Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah stressed the need for interaction with Iran at the closing session of Kuwait Investment Forum 2018.

“We seek to have a proper environment for a lasting relationship between Iran, Kuwait and the (Persian) Gulf states in all fields,” Kuwait Times quoted him as saying.

In January 2017, the foreign minister of Kuwait paid a visit to Tehran to relay a message from the Kuwaiti emir to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, announcing the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council’s readiness for closer ties with Tehran via dialogue.

A few weeks later, President Rouhani took a tour of Kuwait and Oman for what he called “promotion of ties with the regional and neighboring countries, and strengthening of stability, security and development across the region.”

In comments in August 2017, Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait praised the Arab country for its “balanced policy” toward regional conflicts, highlighting the efforts the emirate has made to prevent the escalation of tensions by encouraging dialogue.

Hailing Kuwait for its efforts to broker regional detente and for its policy on various regional issues such as the crises in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, Alireza Enayati had admired Kuwait for its “remarkable efforts” to settle the diplomatic conflict between Qatar and several other members of the (P)GCC, saying those attempts could ease the tensions and mark a great success for Kuwait.