Iran - Kuwait: ۷۰ Years On

Asharq Al-Awsat in a report titled "Iran-Kuwait: 70 Years of Bilateral Relations" reviews major milestones in the history of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.
The history of Iran and Kuwait relations dates back to mid-20th century with economic motivations being the initial driving force. Apart from transit business between the two countries, trade exchange took place via Kuwait and Al-Mohammerah ports and Iranian Bushehr and Bandar Abbas ports.
Following Kuwait independence from Britain in 1961, bilateral relations between Iran and Kuwait significantly flourished to the point where Iran was among the first countries to recognize their independence starting diplomatic ties in 1962, the latest of which is the appointment of Ali Reza Enayati as its new ambassador to Kuwait in May 21, 2014.
After the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979, the then Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister, then Sheikh Sabah (now the Emir of Kuwait) was the first Persian Gulf top-notch official to visit Iran in June 1979. Iran was among the first countries to condemn Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and back UN Security Council Resolution 660 demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait. Iran also requested UN to consider UNSC Resolution 661 and place comprehensive economic sanctions on Iraq and remain committed to it. The move was widely welcomed and supported by Arab countries with Kuwait being at the forefront. Having been liberated, Kuwait together with Iran took new steps to mend and strengthen bilateral ties in all political, economic and security-related areas, this time, based on more stable principles. To this end, Sheikh Sabah Ahmad, the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister paid a visit to Iran in January 2003 in order to discuss Washington's intention to attack Iraq. The outcomes of the visit highlighted both parties' common stance on the importance of finding a peaceful solution in case of Iraq, pushing her to implement the provisions of UN Security Council resolutions including Resolution 1441. During the said visit, three MOUs were signed, two of which concerned economic and engineering matters and the third promoted joint trade committees to Supreme Committee on Economic, Scientific, Military and Security Cooperation chaired by ministers of foreign affairs of both countries.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat, in February 2006, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, the former president of Iran, visited Kuwait, during which he held talks with Sheikh Sabah Ahmad, Kuwaiti Emir, reiterating the amicable relations enjoyed by the two countries as well as the political, economic, commercial, historical, geographical and cultural commonalities that brought them closer. The visit was an indication of strong bilateral relations between the two countries.
Since 1992, the two countries have cooperated on a number of security-related internal and external issues. For instance, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, the then Interior Minister of Kuwait visited Iran in order to discuss the establishment of a joint committee to identify solutions to fight against drug smuggling. In June 1996, Sheikh Mohammad Al-khalid Al-Sabah, the then Minister of Interior, signed an MOU with Iran, on behalf of Kuwait, in order to boost cooperation on security matters and anti-drugs efforts. In September 2002, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mobarak, Kuwaiti Prime Minister, the then Minister of Defense, signed a defense-related MOU with Iran which was considered the first of its kind between Iran and a Persian Gulf state. Economically speaking, Iran-Kuwait trade volume stood at $213 million in 2010 of which Iran's export and import accounted for $103 million and $110 million, respectively. In October 1999, the countries signed an MOU on free trade zones in order to facilitate transport of goods via sea. In 2000, a number of MOUs were signed after the meeting of Iran-Kuwait Joint Committee. As to humanitarian efforts, in 2003, Kuwait contributed to $400-million donation of GCC to Iran after Bam earthquake. Last month, Embassy of Kuwait in Austria donated 250,000 euro to IAEA in support for its monitoring activities under the agreement of 24 November between Iran and P1+5. Based on the statement released by Kuwaiti ambassador, the donation was made in response to IAEA appeal to raise funding for its special activities concerning Iran. The statement asserted that the donation was voluntary and underscored Kuwait's eagerness to support the IAEA monitoring roles over nuclear states and in line with her efforts to encourage nuclear energy employment for peaceful purposes and prevent their application for military intentions.