A fresh diplomatic row has erupted between Iran and Kuwait after Tehran accused Kuwaiti authorities of unlawfully attacking an Iranian vessel and detaining four Iranian nationals in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi alleged in a post on X that the incident was a deliberate attempt to escalate regional tensions.
“In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf,” Araghchi wrote.
“This illegal act took place near island used by the U.S. to attack Iran. We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve right to respond,” he added.
According to Reuters, Iran's foreign ministry earlier said the detained individuals were affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards and were conducting a maritime patrol when navigation disruptions caused them to enter Kuwaiti territorial waters.
The ministry also rejected Kuwait's accusations that Tehran had planned “hostile actions” against the Gulf nation.
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The dispute comes after Kuwait accused Iran on Tuesday of dispatching an armed Revolutionary Guard-linked team toward an island that hosts a China-funded port project, heightening already elevated tensions across West Asia.
The allegations surfaced just ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to China for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Regional security concerns have also intensified following revelations by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee that Israel deployed Iron Dome air defence batteries and military personnel to the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict to help defend the Gulf state against Iranian attacks.
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The disclosure highlighted the deepening security cooperation between Israel and the UAE, both of which have long viewed Iran's regional influence with suspicion.
Meanwhile, the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, remains under significant Iranian influence, while diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran appear stalled, raising fears of renewed confrontation in the region.
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