Kuwait not planning to send envoy to Tehran

Relations to improve only if Tehran changes its stance, official says

Kuwait has reiterated it will not send its ambassador to Iran unless Tehran reviews its policy.

“The situation will remain as it is now until Iran changes its stance,” Ali Al Saeed, assistant foreign minister for Asian affairs, said.

“Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Sabah Al Khalid and Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Al Jarallah have often stressed that Iran should take concrete steps to change its policy and adopt a positive role in the region,” Al Saeed told reporters as he announced that Kuwait had approved the nomination of Iran’s ambassador-designate.

On January 5, 2016 Kuwait recalled its ambassador in Iran, saying the decision had been taken following “the storming, torching and sabotage activities carried out by a group of demonstrators on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and its Consulate in Mashhad”.

Kuwait was the fourth Gulf country to take direct action against Tehran following the incident.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Iran, while the UAE recalled its ambassador in Tehran “in accordance with its decision to downgrade diplomatic representation in Iran”.