Kuwait delivered a protest note to Iran’s ambassador after the Iranian embassy rejected allegations against a citizen in an assassination case. Kuwait described the statement as interference in its judiciary. The diplomatic dispute followed death sentences against three defendants, while Iran’s embassy said its citizen had not been in Kuwait for ten years.
Kuwait summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Totounji on October 28 and delivered a formal protest over a statement issued by his embassy. Deputy Foreign Minister Hamad Suleiman al-Mashaan handed over the note. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry described the embassy’s intervention in a court case as interference in domestic affairs and an infringement of the country’s sovereignty and judicial independence.[1], [2]
Iran’s embassy denied that one of its citizens had participated in a plan to assassinate officials or any other activity threatening Kuwait’s national security. It said the individual had not been in Kuwait during the previous ten years and called the allegations unfounded. The embassy argued that accusations against Iranian citizens ran counter to good-neighbourly relations.[1]
A Kuwaiti court had sentenced three defendants to death on Monday in a case involving alleged cooperation with Iran and Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed movement, and plans to assassinate senior officials. Interior Minister Fahad al-Yousef was among the alleged targets. Eight other defendants received five-year prison terms. Kuwait urged Iran to observe international law, non-interference and the 1961 Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations.[1]
