Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned Kuwait on Wednesday that Tehran reserves the right to respond after four Iranian nationals were detained in the Persian Gulf. Araghchi accused Kuwait of unlawfully attacking an Iranian boat near an island he claimed is used by the United States to launch attacks on Iran. Kuwait said the four men had confessed to being IRGC operatives tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island.

What did Kuwait say about the detained Iranians?

Kuwait’s interior ministry said the four men, two navy colonels, a captain, and a lieutenant commander, confessed to belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The ministry said they had been tasked with infiltrating Bubiyan Island and were arrested as they attempted to enter the country by sea. The announcement was published by state news agency KUNA on Tuesday.

How did Iran respond to Kuwait’s IRGC infiltration allegations?

Iran’s foreign ministry rejected Kuwait’s account as “absolutely baseless.” It said the four officers had entered Kuwaiti waters by mistake due to a disruption in their navigation system. Araghchi also posted on X, demanding their immediate release and warning that Iran reserved the right to respond.

In his post, Araghchi accused Kuwait of making “a clear attempt to sow discord,” framing the detention as an unlawful act rather than a security interdiction. He did not specify what form a potential Iranian response might take.

What is the broader context of Kuwait-Iran tensions?

Since the outbreak of the wider Middle East conflict, Kuwaiti authorities have moved to crack down on individuals and groups with alleged links to Iran. The Bubiyan Island incident adds to a pattern of Gulf states taking a harder line on suspected Iranian activity within their borders. Kuwait has not publicly responded to Araghchi’s Wednesday statement.