The future of Iran-Kuwait relations is likely to be largely influenced by pragmatic engagement focused on areas of mutual benefit, sustainable economic cooperation, continued high-level political meetings, and trade agreements.
After 1979, bilateral relations between the two countries deteriorated. However, after the end of the Iran-Iraq war, Tehran adopted a policy of de-escalation with its neighbors, and relations with Kuwait improved to a great extent.
Despite the crisis between the GCC and Tehran since 2016, the two sides’ relations have not faced widespread tension. With the normalization of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, relations between Tehran and Kuwait have also taken on new dimensions.
In recent years, part of the focus of Iranian-Kuwaiti meetings has been on shared positions and concerns about regional stability and security, and improving multidimensional relations. In the past year, we have witnessed numerous talks and mutual meetings between officials from the two countries.
Kuwait is an important member of the Gulf Cooperation Council that has always adopted a cautious policy towards Iran.
Kuwait, with its policy of “no alliance, no confrontation” and calculated coexistence, has not been in the anti-Iran camp and both is an ally of Washington in the GCC and has good relations with Tehran. Kuwait supports the reduction of US-Iran tensions.
Iran also emphasizes that the comprehensive development of relations with its neighbors is one of the fundamental axes of Tehran’s foreign policy doctrine.
Also, strengthening relations with neighbors and forming a strong region, strengthening economic and trade relations, and promoting joint investments are among the priorities of foreign policy of Pezeshkian’s government.
Strengthening diplomatic and consular relations has also been at a good pace. For example, the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait recently spoke about increasing working hours, issuing passports in one day, sending an embassy representative to court, pursuing the issue of prisoner exchange, and responding to and quickly handling consular issues.
The scope of relations is such that immediately after the Israeli attacks on Iran, Kuwait condemned the attacks and called them a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and international law. Then, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya made a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, during which he emphasized Kuwait’s solidarity with Iran.
Tehran, in turn, appreciated the Kuwaiti counterpart’s contact and the Kuwaiti government’s position and planned to expand diplomatic, political, and cultural consultations with Kuwaiti officials and figures. In this regard, the Iranian ambassador to Kuwait appreciated the positive position of the Kuwaiti leadership and said, “Kuwait is a country that Iran greatly respects for its balanced and constructive positions.”
From this perspective, Tehran does not want this war to spread to other countries or the region unless it is imposed. In this framework, Tehran’s doctrine is to respect the sovereignty of countries, strengthen its defense doctrine in all its aspects, protect national interests and respect the territorial integrity of neighboring countries, a policy of good neighborliness, and expand relations with Kuwait.
In Pezhakian’s previous telephone conversation with the Emir of Kuwait on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, he emphasized strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and convergence with the Islamic nation and strengthening cooperation and coordination between the two countries.
The travel of more than 100,000 Kuwaiti tourists to Iran last year and the cancellation of visas for Kuwaiti nationals, the activity of 5 Iranian and Kuwaiti airlines on the route to Kuwait with Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Lar, and Ahvaz, etc., indicate the developing tourist and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Basic bilateral economic agreements are an important foundation for the future development of trade relations. However, Kuwait imports about $37-38 billion in goods annually, but Iran’s share of this market is very small, between $200-250 million.
The presence of about 400,000 Iranians or people of Iranian origin in Kuwait and cultural and religious commonalities, especially among the Shiite population of Kuwait, can serve as a platform for strengthening relations.
Kuwaitis are major investors. They can provide Kuwaiti capital flow and tourism development in Iran. Iran also has a wide and diverse capacity for foreign investment, and the government invites Kuwaiti investors to invest in Iran with many incentives. Also, the project of better connecting Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Iran by railway, increasing transportation cooperation; establishing new cargo and passenger shipping lines; and signing an international road transport agreement, can be seriously considered by the two countries.
Also, expanding non-oil trade and Kuwaiti investment in Iranian infrastructure, sending Iranian labor to Kuwait, attracting foreign investment from Kuwait, better functioning of the Iran-Kuwait Chamber, launching the Arvandkenar-Kuwait sea line, and facilitating passenger and cargo traffic can open a new path to increase economic interactions between Iran and Kuwait.
Iran and Kuwait are currently facing several environmental challenges. In recent decades, the water level of the region’s rivers has decreased. By 2030, Kuwait will face an intensifying water crisis. Therefore, cooperation is urgently needed to combat climate change, rising sea levels, and devastating sandstorms in the region.
Also, despite some differences in approaches, Iran and Kuwait can find opportunities for bilateral or multilateral cooperation through pragmatic cooperation amidst differences, such as in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and OPEC.
Resolving the challenge of joint ownership of the Arash oil field (Al-Durra) between Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia can be a sustainable basis for practical cooperation and continuous coordination.
Outlook
Some political and economic challenges such as Western sanctions against Iran, the two countries’ different views on resolving the regional issue, the presence of the United States, the possibility of Iran’s enemies abusing Kuwaiti soil to achieve their goals, the issue of Iranian islands, ideological and political divergences between Kuwait and Iran, Kuwait’s role in the GCC, the view of Israel, etc. are obstacles to further economic and political cooperation.
Although Iran insisted that it targeted the United States and not Qatar in its attack on the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar in June 2025, the continuation of broader tensions could disrupt the process of de-escalation with the GCC countries. Therefore, the future of relations with Kuwait cannot take a completely positive turn and reach a strategic level unless the remaining challenges, especially the joint oil fields, are fully and win-win resolved.
However, the future of Iran-Kuwait relations is likely to be largely influenced by pragmatic engagement focused on areas of mutual benefit, sustainable economic cooperation, continued high-level political meetings, and trade agreements. However, shared interests and a desire to expand non-oil trade and investment are likely to remain the main pillars of the relationship.
Samyar Rostami, а political observer and senior researcher in international relations
