KUWAIT CITY/TEHRAN, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait's cabinet on Tuesday condemned what it described as an infiltration attempt by an armed group allegedly affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) onto Bubiyan Island, while Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected the claims as "absolutely baseless."
In this photo released by Tasnim News Agency, a Revolutionary Guard Navy (IRGC) speedboat approaches the cargo ship Epaminondas during what state media described as the seizure of one of two vessels accused of violations in the Strait of Hormuz, April 21, 2026. (File photo: AP)
The Kuwaiti cabinet said the suspects clashed with Kuwaiti armed forces before being apprehended, state news agency KUNA reported, citing a cabinet statement.
The suspects admitted during interrogation that they belonged to the IRGC and had attempted to enter Kuwait by sea to carry out "hostile activities," the statement said.
Kuwait called on Iran to "immediately and unconditionally cease" what it described as hostile actions threatening regional security and stability, it said, adding that the country "reserves its full and legitimate right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter."
Earlier on Tuesday, Kuwait's Interior Ministry said four infiltrators had attempted to reach Bubiyan Island aboard a fishing boat allegedly chartered for the operation.
The ministry said one Kuwaiti serviceman was injured during clashes with the four infiltrators, who had been arrested. According to media reports, the incident occurred on May 1, and two more "infiltrators" had escaped.
Kuwait's Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Toutounchi and handed him a formal protest note over the incident.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday roundly rejected Kuwait's claims.
The ministry said in a statement that four Iranian officers had entered Kuwait's territorial waters due to a navigation system disruption while on a routine maritime patrol mission.
It strongly condemns what it described as the Kuwaiti government's "inappropriate action of making political and propaganda exploitation" of the issue.
The Iranian ministry said Iran respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region and expects the Kuwaiti authorities to resolve existing issues through official channels and to refrain from "hasty comments and baseless claims."
It also stressed the need to provide Iran's embassy in Kuwait with immediate access to the detained nationals in accordance with international law and to immediately release them.
The development comes amid heightened regional tensions following the U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran. Kuwait said it had intercepted hundreds of drones and missiles during the conflict before a ceasefire took effect on April 8.