Kuwait expels Iranian envoys over ‘terror’ cell

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) — Kuwait on Thursday expelled Iranian diplomats and closed some embassy missions after the emirate’s top court convicted a “terror” cell of links to the Islamic republic, prompting Iran to threaten reciprocal measures.

Sunni-ruled Kuwait, which has a sizeable Shiite minority, is trying to mediate an end to the Gulf’s worst crisis in years after regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia and its allies cut ties with Qatar in June.

They severed relations with energy-rich Qatar over accusations it is too close to Shiite Iran and funds extremists — allegations denied by Doha.

A Kuwaiti supreme court ruling last month convicted 21 people of belonging to a cell that had been formed and trained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. “Iranian sides helped and supported the cell members,” Kuwait’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP around 15 Iranian diplomats were expelled.

He declined to comment on whether the Iranian ambassador, Alireza Enayati, was among them.

Kuwait also ordered the closure of the Iranian “military, cultural and trade” missions, the official said.

Iran reacted angrily, saying the accusations it was behind a terrorist cell were baseless and threatened to take similar steps.

“Iran’s strong objection has been communicated to Kuwait’s charge d’affaires,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi, said in a statement on his Telegram channel.