Kuwait said on Tuesday that authorities had arrested four men accused of attempting to enter the country illegally by sea and carrying out hostile activities linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The interior ministry said the arrests followed a maritime security operation near Boubyan Island earlier this month, during which Kuwaiti forces intercepted a fishing boat carrying six individuals. According to officials, the suspects later confessed during investigations to belonging to the IRGC and to being assigned to conduct operations targeting Kuwait.
Authorities identified the detained men as Iranian naval officers, while two additional suspects reportedly escaped during an exchange of fire with Kuwaiti forces stationed on the island. The ministry said a Kuwaiti serviceman was injured during the confrontation.
Officials stated that legal procedures had been initiated against the four detainees, adding that security agencies remained on high alert in coordination with the armed forces to counter threats against the country’s stability.
The foreign ministry condemned what it described as a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and summoned Iran’s ambassador in Kuwait to deliver an official protest note over the incident. Kuwaiti officials also called on Tehran to halt actions that could undermine regional stability and de-escalation efforts in the Gulf.
The alleged infiltration comes at a time of heightened regional sensitivity surrounding maritime security and cross-border tensions in Gulf waters. Boubyan Island, located near Kuwait’s northern maritime border, holds strategic importance due to its proximity to regional shipping routes and military zones.
Iran has not publicly responded to the accusations.
