Iran and its proxies' attacks constitute a violation of sovereignty

The Council of Ministers, during its meeting yesterday chaired by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Prime Minister, expressed its strongest condemnation and denunciation of the heinous aggression launched by Iran and its affiliated factions and militias in Iraq against the State of Kuwait, through attacks targeting several border centers and an offshore drilling platform owned by Kuwait Oil Company. The Council reaffirmed that the continuation of the aggression by Iran and its proxies in Iraq constitutes a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a serious threat to the security and safety of Kuwaiti citizens and residents on its territory.

On another note, the Council of Ministers reviewed a visual presentation delivered by Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Sovereign Credit Rating Governance, Dr. Yaqoub Al-Rafai, regarding the committee’s report for the first half of 2026. The report underscored the strength and stability of Kuwait’s sovereign credit rating among the three major global rating agencies, noting that Kuwait maintains strong investment-grade credit ratings and enjoys global market confidence in its economy.

In a separate development, the Council of Ministers approved a draft law decree converting Kuwait Airways Company into a fully state-owned joint-stock company and submitted it to His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

For further details: The Council of Ministers was briefed on the substance of the meeting between His Highness the Amir and His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates, along with the accompanying delegation, during the fraternal visit to the country. The Armed Forces remain ready and continue to carry out their duties and responsibilities with efficiency and competence.

The Cabinet held its meeting yesterday, presided over by His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Prime Minister. Following the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Shuraidh Al-Muwasharji, issued the following statement:

At the outset of its meeting, the Cabinet was briefed on the substance of the meeting between His Highness Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, along with the accompanying delegation, during the latter’s fraternal visit to Kuwait last Thursday. The meeting was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah and His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, Prime Minister. During the meeting, cordial exchanges took place, reflecting the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples, as well as ways to support and develop these ties across various fields and all levels. Both sides emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation between the two fraternal countries in a manner that serves their shared interests.

The latest developments on the regional and international fronts were also discussed, with particular attention to developments in the Middle East region, and views were exchanged on these matters. Both parties reaffirmed their support for all initiatives, efforts, and endeavors aimed at establishing peace, security, and stability in the region. Additionally, the meeting addressed key issues of common Gulf interest, emphasizing the need to strengthen unity and the progress of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in a way that fulfills the aspirations of its peoples for further development and prosperity.

Also present at the meeting were First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousif, Minister of the Diwan Amiri Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali, Head of the Crown Prince’s Diwan Sheikh Thamer Al-Jaber, Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ali, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jaraah Al-Jaber, and several senior officials from the Diwan Amiri.

On another note, the Cabinet was informed of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad’s order to declare official mourning and lower flags nationwide and at Kuwaiti embassies abroad, starting from last Sunday for a period of four days, in mourning for the late, may God have mercy upon him, His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.

In light of this profound tragedy, the Council of Ministers extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the sisterly State of Qatar, to the esteemed ruling family, and to the brotherly Qatari people, on the passing of the late His Highness Prince Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, may God have mercy on him. The Council affirmed that Qatar, the Gulf family, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the world have lost a great leader and a towering symbol distinguished by foresight, wisdom, and a life dedicated to serving his country and people, as well as the causes of the Arab and Islamic nations, standing by their side and defending them. Reaffirming that the State of Kuwait and its people, who are pained by this loss, will forever proudly recall the positions of sisterly Qatar and the deceased, may God have mercy on him, toward Kuwait, and their support for its just causes during the Iraqi occupation, the Council praised the comprehensive developmental renaissance and significant progress achieved by Qatar under his blessed reign, elevating it to the ranks of advanced nations. It prayed to Almighty God to envelop the deceased in His vast mercy, forgiveness, and pleasure, and to admit him into Paradise among the righteous, the martyrs, and the truthful, and to grant His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the esteemed ruling family, and the brotherly Qatari people the best patience and solace.

An Unjustified Aggression

On another note, the Council of Ministers expressed its strongest condemnation and rejection of the unjustified aggression launched by Iran and its affiliated factions and militias in Iraq against the State of Kuwait. This aggression involved attacks targeting several border centers and an offshore drilling platform belonging to Kuwait Oil Company, resulting in human casualties and material losses. The Council reiterated that the continuation of the aggression by Iran and its proxies in Iraq constitutes a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty, a serious threat to the security and safety of Kuwaiti citizens and residents, a blatant challenge to international legitimacy and UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), and an irresponsible undermining of regional and international efforts aimed at achieving security and stability in the region. The Council emphasized Kuwait’s inherent right to take appropriate measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and stability, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

Inviolability of Diplomatic Missions

Also, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the continued attacks targeting Kuwait’s General Consulate in Basra, which represent an unacceptable violation of the consulate’s inviolability and undermine the Iraqi government’s efforts to fulfill its international obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963), particularly Article 31, which obligates the host state to take all appropriate measures to ensure the full protection of consular premises and safeguard their inviolability. Despite the Iraqi government’s efforts to address these attacks, the Council emphasized the necessity for the Iraqi government to take immediate and decisive measures to hold all those involved in these hostile acts accountable, ensure they do not recur, and implement measures to safeguard the inviolability of Kuwait’s diplomatic and consular missions accredited to the Republic of Iraq and guarantee the security and safety of their personnel.

Violation of International Law Rules

In this context, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the unjustified Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. These attacks represent a repeated and blatant escalation, a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of these states, and a grave breach of international law rules, the UN Charter, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. The Council affirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with these sister states and its support for all measures they take to safeguard their security, stability, and sovereignty. It stressed that the continuation of these practices threatens regional security and stability, calling on Iran to immediately cease such actions, respect the sovereignty of states, and resolve disputes through peaceful means.

Threat to Navigation Safety

In the same context, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the unjustified Iranian attack targeting two Emirati oil tankers while they were passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The attack resulted in the death of one crew member and injuries to others, constituting a blatant violation of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and a direct threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and global energy supplies. The Council affirmed Kuwait’s full support for sisterly the United Arab Emirates and its endorsement of all measures taken to protect its security and assets. It stressed the urgent need for an immediate halt to all escalatory actions and adherence to international law provisions that guarantee freedom of navigation and transit through straits used for international navigation, thereby preserving regional security and stability.

Kuwait’s Solidarity with Saudi Arabia

On another note, the Council of Ministers expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the attacks launched by the Houthi militia using ballistic missiles targeting the southern region of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These attacks constitute a blatant violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a breach of international law and international humanitarian law, and an escalation that undermines regional security and stability. The Council affirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its standing by its side, and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its sovereignty, security, stability, and the protection of its people and residents.

The Council also expressed its strong condemnation and rejection of the Iranian targeting of a Saudi oil tanker while it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which represents a serious violation of international law rules and a threat to maritime navigation safety and global energy supply stability. The Council reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm and supportive position regarding the security and stability of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its rejection of any aggression that endangers its security or exposes its interests and assets to risk.

Readiness and Capability

On the other hand, the Council of Ministers heard a briefing from Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ali regarding the latest developments in the region and current military developments in light of the unjustified Iranian attacks suffered by Kuwait in recent days. The Council affirmed the readiness of the Armed Forces and their continued performance of duties with efficiency and capability, taking all necessary measures and precautions to safeguard the country’s security and territorial integrity, thereby ensuring the safety of citizens and residents.

Political and Diplomatic Efforts

On another note, the Council of Ministers heard a briefing from Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jara Al-Jaber regarding the political and diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad to keep pace with the latest developments on the regional and international scenes.

On another note, the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed the Council of the outcomes of the ministerial meeting of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) member states and NATO member states, held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Turkish capital, Ankara, last Wednesday. The Minister chaired the Kuwaiti delegation at this meeting. In his speech, he reiterated Kuwait’s condemnation of the unjustified Iranian aggression targeting the country and its civilian and vital facilities, which constitutes a blatant violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a shameful breach of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. He emphasized Kuwait’s commitment to enhancing joint work with NATO within the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative to address current and emerging challenges in the region and explore new areas of cooperation. He noted that Kuwait’s hosting of the NATO Regional Center and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative exemplifies the robustness of the partnership between the two sides and their commitment to coordination, consultation, and constructive dialogue. He called for holding a joint ministerial meeting between ICI member states and NATO member states in Kuwait during 2027, to contribute to continuing collective efforts to achieve common goals and enhance security and stability in the region and beyond.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also informed the Council of the substance of his meetings with the foreign ministers of friendly countries, as part of his visit to Ankara to chair the Kuwaiti delegation at the ministerial meeting of ICI member states and NATO member states on the sidelines of the NATO summit. During these meetings, the relations between Kuwait and these friendly countries and ways to develop and enhance them in various fields were reviewed. The latest developments on the regional and international scenes were also discussed.

Credit Rating

On another note, the Council of Ministers reviewed a visual presentation by the Minister of Finance and Chairman of the High Committee for Sovereign Credit Rating Governance, Dr. Yaqoub Al-Rafai, regarding the Committee’s report for the first half of 2026. The report confirmed the strength and stability of Kuwait’s sovereign credit position among the three major global rating agencies. It indicated that Kuwait maintains strong investment-grade credit ratings, with Standard & Poor’s assigning a rating of (-AA), Fitch assigning (-AA), and Moody’s assigning (A1), with a stable outlook from all three agencies. This follows Standard & Poor’s upgrade of Kuwait’s sovereign credit rating by one notch in November 2025, based on the momentum of fiscal reforms and the issuance of Law-Decree No. 60 of 2025 on Financing and Liquidity, which enhanced government financing flexibility and enabled the development of public debt instruments.

The report clarified that rating agencies maintained Kuwait’s credit rating without any negative action during the recent period of regional tensions, underscoring the resilience of its credit profile and global markets’ confidence in its economy. The report affirmed that the committee, in coordination with relevant authorities, would continue to monitor rating factors and advance financial and economic reforms to support the sustainability of Kuwait’s sovereign credit standing. Kuwait Airways Company, a joint-stock company, On another front, the Council of Ministers approved a draft decree-law converting Kuwait Airways Company into a fully state-owned joint-stock company and submitted it to His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

In a separate development, the Council of Ministers reviewed the minutes of the Ministerial Committee for Public Services, which included several items, most notably a report by the Green Urban Development Initiatives Committee on initiatives submitted by various state-owned oil sector companies, private sector firms, cooperative societies, and individuals. These initiatives pertain to ornamental landscaping and greening of several main streets, certain sites and squares across the country, public parks in some residential areas, and painting several major bridges in different governorates. The Council of Ministers approved these initiatives, expressing its gratitude and appreciation for their contribution to the state’s efforts to develop ornamental landscaping in Kuwait and highlight its urban character. It commended the efforts of the Governor of Ahmadi, who also chairs the Green Urban Development Initiatives Committee, Sheikh Hamoud Jaber Al-Ahmad, along with the committee members, in fostering a spirit of initiative and social responsibility, encouraging entities and individuals to contribute to beautifying and greening public spaces, creating a suitable urban environment, and achieving sustainable development.

The Council of Ministers also reviewed a number of agenda items, reports, and ministerial committee minutes, approving them. It further decided to refer several items to the relevant ministerial committees for study and submission of appropriate recommendations to complete the necessary procedures for their implementation.