Tehran demands Kuwait release 4 Iranians detained in the Gulf

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi on Wednesday said Tehran is demanding the release of four Iranian citizens detained in the Arabian Gulf by Kuwait.

Kuwaiti authorities on Tuesday said ⁠four ​people who confessed to being affiliated with ​Iran's Revolutionary ​Guards were arrested earlier this month as they attempted to land on a Kuwaiti island.

Aragchi accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat, adding Iran had the "right to respond."

In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near island used by the U.S. to attack Iran.

We demand immediate release of our nationals and reserve right to respond.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 13, 2026

"In clear attempt to sow discord, Kuwait has unlawfully attacked an Iranian boat and detained 4 of our citizens in the Persian Gulf. This illegal act took place near island used by the US to attack Iran," Abbas Araghchi wrote on X.

"We demand immediate release of our nationals" he added.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry said that two navy colonels, a captain and a lieutenant commander admitted they were tasked with "infiltrating" Bubiyan Island.

Seyed Abbas #araghchi, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, arrived in New Delhi to participate in the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the BRICS member countries. pic.twitter.com/SPfycqfHrt

— Iran in India (@Iran_in_India) May 13, 2026