Ambassador tells Kuwait that Gulf wariness about Iran is misplaced

Iran’s ambassador to Kuwait has said that the wariness felt by Gulf countries about his country is misplaced. “We are neighbours and brothers,” said Ali Reza Enayati, “and we have mutual relationships.”

Speaking at a press conference at the Iranian embassy in Kuwait on the 36th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Enayati added, “The region is heading towards peace and we have not witnessed any strain in our relationships, with the people or their governments.”

With regards to Iran’s support for the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, as well as the allegations that it plans to spread Shiism in Egypt, the ambassador said that such questions have been asked for more than 30 years. “We do not interfere in the affairs of any sovereign state that can draw and build its future based on its people’s will, as this is entirely up to those countries themselves,” he insisted.

“The developments in Yemen have been rapid,” he noted, pointing out that Yemen belongs to the Yemenis, and with the wisdom of its people, Yemen can build a democratic state that takes into account the interests of all Yemenis, without excluding any faction. “They have a road map, be it the partnership agreement or the national dialogue outcomes, and this shows them their way, although dialogue will always be very important.”

Speaking about the nuclear issue in his country he said the framework for negotiations is in place and Iran is serious about following it. “We do not manipulate anything.”

In the meantime, Enayati suggested his country’s relations with Saudi Arabia need to be developed and consolidated. “We are not experiencing the best of relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia right now, and we must turn this page and start a fresh one,” he concluded.