Iran’s foreign minister on Wednesday, May 13, called for the instant release of four Iranians held in Kuwait after accusing the Gulf state of an illegal attack on their boat near the strategic Bubiyan Island.
Abbas Araghchi said the incident was a clear attempt to create discord in the region. In a social media post, he described the four men as ordinary Iranian citizens who were operating in the Persian Gulf when Kuwaiti forces attacked their vessel.
He noted the location was near an island previously used by the United States to launch attacks against Iran.
“We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve the right to respond,” he warned.
Kuwait Tells a Different Story
On Tuesday, the Kuwait Interior Ministry said security forces foiled an infiltration attempt on May 1.
Six armed men linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached Bubiyan Island in a rented fishing boat, according to Kuwaiti officials.
When challenged, the group opened fire, and one Kuwaiti soldier was wounded in the clash. Four of the men were captured, while two escaped.
Kuwaiti authorities said the detained men confessed during questioning that they belonged to the IRGC and had been sent to carry out “hostile acts” on the island.
Two of them were naval colonels, a naval captain, and an army lieutenant, according to reports.
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Kuwait summoned Iran’s ambassador and issued a formal note of protest, saying the operation was a serious violation of its sovereignty.
Bubiyan Island, the largest in Kuwait’s coastal chain, sits in a sensitive spot near the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab waterway.
It houses military installations and the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, a major project backed by China that is expected to become fully operational later this year. The island’s strategic value has only grown amid wider tensions in the Gulf.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, quickly backed Kuwait.
They condemned the alleged infiltration as a threat to regional peace and expressed full support for Kuwait’s right to defend itself.
Iran Terms Kuwait Accusations Baseless
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called Kuwait’s accusations “baseless” and said the four men were on a routine maritime patrol.
Tehran insisted that a navigation system malfunction caused them to drift into Kuwaiti waters by mistake. Iranian officials demanded consular access to the detainees and their speedy release under international law.
This flare-up comes at a delicate time as relations between Iran and several Arab Gulf states have been strained for years over issues ranging from Yemen to maritime security.
The involvement of the IRGC, a powerful force in Iran’s military and political structure, adds a further layer of concern for Kuwait and its neighbors.
Kuwait has maintained that it wants good relations with Tehran but will not tolerate threats to its territory. In its statements, it reserved the right to self-defense under the United Nations Charter.
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Fishing boats and patrol vessels from different countries regularly operate close to one another, and navigation disputes are not uncommon. But when armed forces and elite units enter the picture, the risks multiply.
Neither side has released photos or videos of the boat or the detained men. There is little independent verification of the competing claims. The foreign diplomatic fallout is clearly gathering pace.
As of Wednesday, the four Iranians remain in Kuwaiti custody. Tehran continues pressing for the men’s freedom, while Kuwait shows no sign of backing down.
Both countries are digging in on their versions of events, and the pressure is building for a resolution before things get worse.
