Manama: Kuwaitis, wary of military escalations in the region, have rejected a recent statement by Iran's Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi about striking at Western warships in the Gulf as "hallow and futile" and insisted that Iran addresses issues diplomatically.
The rejections were published ahead of a two-day visit to Kuwait by Ali Larijani, the Iranian parliament speaker amid expectations by the local MPs that it would help clarify Iran's stance and consolidate political stability in the region.
"Vahidi is talking about Western warships, which means that the issue is between Iran and Western states. Kuwait must be kept out of it," Sami Al Nesf, a journalist, said.
"In all cases, Iran should address its problems diplomatically and distance itself from a war of words that achieves nothing. Kuwait does not want any more wars in the region because it negatively affects its development plans," he was quoted as saying by the Kuwaiti daily Al Hurriya on Monday.
"We often have seen clashing statements coming from Iran. The military talk about attacks and strikes, while the politicians express a different view. This of course results in a lack of confidence in the Iranian regime," Dr Abdullah Al Ghanem, a political science professor at the university of Kuwait, said.
Badr Al Shabeeb, the head of the Salafi Scientific Movement, said that Gulf states should work together to confront possible threats.
"The Gulf countries should seize every opportunity to establish international alliances and should appreciate that power is more important than common currencies or economic alliances. There is no meaning for money if there is no security," he said.
Vahidi last week warned that Iran could strike back at Western warships in the Gulf if it were attacked.
The more than 90 war vessels, including submarines, aircraft carriers and destroyers in the Gulf had created a "military environment" he said during a conference in Tehran.
"What is the reason underlying the deployment of so many warships and what aim are they pursuing...Are they arrayed against Iran? The Westerners know well that the existence of these warships in the Persian Gulf serve as the best operational targets for Iran if they should want to undertake any military action against Iran," Fars news agency quoted Vahidi as saying.
