Attempted infiltration by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into Kuwait… Iranian admission and Arab condemnations
Kuwait’s announcement that it had foiled a maritime infiltration attempt by elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps triggered a wave of Arab condemnations against Iran, as the incident was seen as a serious indicator of escalating direct Iranian threats against Gulf states.
In a notable development, Iran officially acknowledged on Tuesday, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that the four individuals arrested by Kuwait belong to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while claiming they were on a “routine maritime mission” and had entered Kuwaiti waters due to a “navigation system malfunction.”
Tehran rejected Kuwaiti accusations regarding the planning of “hostile acts,” while Kuwaiti investigations confirmed that the infiltrators admitted they had received a direct assignment from the IRGC to infiltrate Bubiyan Island and carry out hostile tasks inside Kuwaiti territory.
Clash in Bubiyan
On May 3, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense announced that it had thwarted a maritime infiltration attempt through territorial waters and arrested four individuals attempting to enter the country illegally.
However, the case took a more serious turn after the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior revealed the results of its investigations, which exposed the identities of those involved and their affiliation with the IRGC.
According to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior, those arrested are:
Marine Colonel Amir Hussein Abdul Mohammad Zaraei
Marine Colonel Abdessamad Yadallah Qanawati
Marine Captain Ahmed Jamshid Gholam Reza Zolfaghari
First Lieutenant Mohammad Hussein Sohrab Foroughi Rad
Investigations confirmed that the four individuals had been tasked by the IRGC to infiltrate Bubiyan Island on May 1 aboard a fishing boat specially rented for the mission.
It was added that the operation involved carrying out “hostile acts” against Kuwait, and that the clash with Kuwaiti armed forces resulted in the injury of a Kuwaiti serviceman while performing his duties.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior also revealed that two other individuals fled during the clash:
Marine Captain Mansour Qambari
Abdulali Kazem Siamari, “boat commander”
Kuwait emphasized that it reserves its full right to self-defense and to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.
Iranian admission and attempt at containment
The Iranian acknowledgment of the individuals’ affiliation with the IRGC added greater gravity to the Kuwaiti account, despite Tehran’s attempt to contain the crisis by describing the incident as a “navigation error.”
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the four individuals were on a “routine maritime mission” and entered Kuwaiti territorial waters due to a “navigation systems malfunction.”
However, Tehran simultaneously denied any intention to carry out hostile acts against Kuwait, contradicting the infiltrators’ confessions according to the official Kuwaiti narrative.
Arab and Gulf condemnations
The incident sparked a wide wave of Arab and Gulf condemnations, viewing the Iranian infiltration as a serious violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a direct threat to Gulf security.
The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the infiltration by IRGC elements into Bubiyan Island to carry out hostile acts, which resulted in the injury of a Kuwaiti armed forces member.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, expressed the UAE’s solidarity with Kuwait and full support for the measures taken by its security services to confront these terrorist acts.
Saudi Arabia also condemned “in the strongest terms” the infiltration of IRGC elements into Bubiyan Island with the aim of carrying out hostile acts, describing it as a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, stated that Iran’s hostile policies represent “a direct threat” to the region’s security and stability.
Egypt likewise condemned the attempted Iranian infiltration and reaffirmed its full solidarity with Kuwait.
The Arab Parliament described the incident as a “criminal act” reflecting a hostile approach and a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and international law.
