Kuwait is celebrating the anniversary of its independence after having experienced many ups and downs in its short history.

Since its independence in 1961, Kuwait has joined the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, and despite its small size, it has played an influential role in regional and international political affairs.
What differentiates Kuwait from other Arab states is its strong parliamentary system, which is considered a pillar of democracy in the country and has an important role in making decisions about domestic and international policies.
Moreover, the country’s active participation in efforts to resolve regional crises and help the oppressed Palestinian nation over the past four decades has given Kuwait a special status.
However, during the time the Baath regime ruled Iraq, the country faced many policy challenges.
During the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war, due to unrealistic views about the Islamic Republic or fear of Saddam Hussein, Kuwait provided financial and logistical assistance to Saddam’s regime, and this seriously harmed Iran-Kuwait relations.
Nevertheless, since the Kuwaiti government has always been especially valued in Iran’s foreign policy, the Islamic Republic maintained its political relations with Kuwait at an acceptable level.
Over the eight years of the imposed war, the corrupt Baath regime tried to entice Kuwait to join the war against Iran, but the vigilance of Kuwaiti leaders and the Islamic Republic’s constructive collaboration with the country foiled Saddam’s endeavors and the two states maintained their relations.
After the war, the true nature of Saddam’s regime was revealed to the Kuwaiti government when Iraq invaded and occupied Kuwait in 1990, and Iran did not hesitate to help the country, even though it was still suffering from the aftermath of the war.
This humanitarian collaboration had a remarkable psychological effect on Kuwait’s people and leaders, and hence they realized the mistake in their previous stance toward Iran.
Accordingly, after Kuwait was liberated from the Iraqi occupation, Iran-Kuwait relations warmed up, bilateral economic cooperation increased, and meetings between the two countries’ high-ranking officials were held.
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Kuwait in February 2006 and his meeting with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah opened a new chapter in the two countries’ relations.
Within the framework of its development drive, Kuwait can surely make use of Iran’s expertise in the fields of engineering, construction, medicine, and agriculture.
Indeed, Iranians have always proven to be trustworthy neighbors of the Kuwaiti nation.
Of course, despite certain extra-regional powers’ efforts to influence Kuwait’s foreign policy and the activities of elements that are trying to use Kuwaiti media outlets to sow discord between the two countries, Iran and Kuwait enjoy a high level of relations and their officials are interested in expanding ties.
A few Kuwaiti media outlets, which are affiliated with those who would like to undermine the friendly ties between Iran-Kuwait, are trying to hinder the expansion of relations through futile negative actions. This runs contrary to Kuwait’s national interests since diplomacy dictates that national interests be protected at all costs.
Iranian media outlets also have the freedom to focus on marginal and meaningless issues, but they respect the national interests of the two Muslim countries and value the development of ties between them, and thus refrain from doing so.
The Tehran Times congratulates the honorable Kuwaiti nation, and especially the country’s ambassador to Iran, on the occasion of their independence day and expresses hope for the development of greater cooperation and understanding between the two countries in the future