Kuwait: We Will Not Be a Party to Any Conflict
Kuwait emphasized that it will not be a party to any regional or international conflict and that it has not permitted the use of its territory to launch attacks against any state, in accordance with its firm commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter, good-neighborliness, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and respect for their sovereignty and territorial integrity. This was stated in Kuwait’s address delivered by Second Secretary of its Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Wafaa Al-Mulla, before the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with social, humanitarian, and cultural affairs, during the discussion of Agenda Item 70, entitled “Promotion and protection of human rights.”
Al-Mulla affirmed that the promotion and protection of human rights cannot be achieved in isolation from respect for states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter and the rules of international law, foremost among which is safeguarding the right to life, security, and safety, and protecting civilians. In this context, Al-Mulla addressed in Kuwait’s statement a series of Iranian attacks on her country since February 28, which targeted civilian objects, vital installations, and essential infrastructure, posing a direct threat to the lives, security, and safety of citizens and residents, and constituting a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and airspace.
She pointed out that targeting civilians and civilian objects constitutes not only a violation of states’ sovereignty and international law but also directly infringes upon the most basic and fundamental human rights, foremost among them the right to life, security, safety, health, housing, and access to essential services.
Al-Mulla referred to Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), expressing Kuwait’s unequivocal rejection of Iran’s attempts to justify these attacks by invoking provisions of the UN Charter, particularly Article 51, outside their proper legal framework. She stressed that the right of self-defense cannot be invoked to justify targeting civilian facilities and vital infrastructure, clarifying that protecting human rights requires translating international principles and obligations into actual protection for civilians and holding perpetrators accountable for violations of their fundamental rights, rather than leaving them as mere theoretical commitments.
She reiterated that international responsibility for the unjustified attacks against Kuwait and their consequences rests with Iran, including responsibility for all material and moral damages caused since February 28.
Al-Mulla concluded Kuwait’s statement by reaffirming the country’s firm commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, stating: “The credibility of the human rights system is measured by its ability to protect individuals when their lives, dignity, and security are at risk, and to ensure that perpetrators of violations are not left unpunished.”
