The shadow of Tehran reaches Bubiyan
Kuwait dropped a diplomatic bomb this Tuesday: it accused Iran of orchestrating an attempted attack against Bubiyan Island, that piece of land in the Persian Gulf that is today key for the megaport financed by China. According to authorities, a commando linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard tried to sneak in on May 1.
Four detained, two fugitives. The Kuwaiti government claims that they managed to catch four alleged members of the group, while two others escaped. This is not a simple border friction: Bubiyan not only has strategic value, but is the heart of an infrastructure project that puts Beijing on the regional map.
“An armed group linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard attempted to infiltrate the area” — Kuwaiti authorities.
And now what? The authorities have already increased surveillance on the island and reinforced port security. Everything is “under control,” they say, but the maximum alert remained. The interrogations of the detainees seek to know if this was just the tip of the iceberg or there are more cells sleeping.
What worries me is the pattern. It is not the first time that Iran plays with tension with its Gulf neighbors, but here the Chinese ingredient changes the game. Kuwait, which always tried to keep a low profile against Tehran, is now forced to show its teeth. And in the middle, families who live near the island wondering if the next movement will be louder.
