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Kuwait to Confront Iraqi Court Ruling on Khor Abdullah

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
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Kuwait to Confront Iraqi Court Ruling on Khor Abdullah

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah discussed the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court's ruling over the Khor Abdullah waterway agreement with his British counterpart James Cleverly.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry reported that the call addressed the bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region.

The statement also mentioned that the call discussed the repercussions of the decision of the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq, which ruled that the law ratifying the agreement regulating navigation in the Khor Abdullah waterway was unconstitutional.

The two officials also touched on Iraq's cancellation of the security swap protocol in Khor Abdullah, signed with Kuwait in 2008, the Ministry concluded.

The Iraqi Parliament and the Kuwaiti National Assembly had previously approved the agreement and submitted it to the UN.

However, the Federal Iraqi Court ruled it “unconstitutional”.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister also discussed the issue with the French Ambassador to Kuwait, Claire Le Flecher, and the Russian Ambassador, Vladimir Zheltov, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry stated that discussion highlighted the implications of the Federal Iraqi Court's decision, the historical fallacies, and Iraq's cancellation of the security swap protocol.

Furthermore, Sheikh Salem addressed the Iraqi court's decision in a meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, in New York ahead of his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to preserving Kuwati's security and sovereignty and the safety of its territory and the region.

The meeting also discussed the details of the Federal Iraqi Court's decision regarding the Khor Abdullah Maritime Navigation Agreement.

Furthermore, the annual coordination meeting of the Ministerial Council for Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries discussed the court decision in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The Ministers stressed the importance of Iraq's commitment to Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect for international conventions and UN resolutions, especially UNSC Resolution 833 regarding the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq boundary.

They called for the complete demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq maritime boundary beyond boundary point 162, urging the Iraqi government to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement.

They called on Iraq and the UN to exert maximum effort to resolve all the issues.

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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.