Bahram Qasemi: Iran's Ambassador Will Remain in Kuwait

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned Kuwait's action in reducing political relations with Tehran, stating: "The issue of expelling or deeming undesirable members of the Iranian embassy staff is not on the table, and we have been asked to reduce our number of staff." According to ISNA news agency, Bahram Qasemi announced in a press conference on Tuesday, July 23, that the Iranian ambassador will remain in Kuwait and added regarding the recent actions of that country: "Such expectations from Kuwait were not present." He further noted: "Of course, sometimes we must understand some of the conditions and problems that countries face." The state news agency IRNA also quoted Bahram Qasemi stating that Iran reserves the right to take reciprocal action and will act if necessary at the appropriate time. On Sunday, July 22, Ali Akbar Velayati, head of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Discernment Council, referred to the recent tensions in Iran-Kuwait relations, saying: "It is not in Kuwait's interest to act this way towards Iran under the influence of the Saudis; we were the first regional country to condemn the occupation by Saddam within 24 hours and helped them regain their occupied territories." He emphasized: "Our advice to Kuwait is not to let their national interests be influenced by the Saudis and others." The Kuwaiti government on Thursday, July 20, requested Tehran to reduce its diplomats in the country from 19 to 4. Reports indicate that the Kuwaiti government has given Iranian diplomats only 45 days to leave Kuwait. These reports also state that the Kuwaiti government has announced the closure of Iranian commercial, military, and cultural offices in the country, citing the "Al-Abdali group" case as the reason for all these actions; a case that opened two years ago with the arrest of several individuals in Al-Abdali, Kuwait, and the discovery of large quantities of weapons and ammunition from them. Kuwait accuses the Iranian government of having connections with the Al-Abdali group, but Tehran has consistently denied this accusation. The Kuwaiti appeals court announced the final ruling regarding the defendants in the so-called "Al-Abdali" case last Tuesday, but according to the Kuwaiti newspaper "Al-Siyasa," 14 of the defendants fled to Iran by sea when they learned of their lengthy sentences. The Kuwaiti intelligence agency announced about two years ago that it discovered a warehouse with large quantities of weapons in the Al-Abdali area, leading to the indictment of 21 Kuwaiti citizens who were accused of being linked to Hezbollah through Iran and some Iranian diplomats, creating a "terrorist cell." In this context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Kuwaiti chargé d'affaires following the expulsion of its diplomats, and the closure of some Iranian offices in Kuwait; 15 diplomats are also being expelled. 14 Kuwaiti Shia fled to Iran after their conviction in court.