630 Chapter 5
1986, Iran issued several threats against Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The Gulf Coopera-
tion Council (GCC) (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain,
and Qatar) ordered their military chiefs to coordinate their strategies under the GCCs
rapid deployment force should Iran invade. Iran responded by moving troops to the
border with Kuwait for the first time since the beginning of the war. On March 15, the
United States warned Iran that if hostilities were carried to other Gulf States it would
be “a major threat to U.S. interests.” On March 16, Saudi Arabia warned Iran that any
aggression against Kuwait would be seen as such against Saudi Arabia.
Coding changes: Dropped from the dispute: 200 United Kingdom. Start Date
changed from November 16, 1985.
MID#2587
Started in August 1986. See the narrative in the 630 Iran/670 Saudi Arabia dyad dis-
pute list.
MID#2594
Dispute Number: 2594
Date(s): October 22, 1986
Participants: 630 Iran/690 Kuwait
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Iran gunboats attacked the Kuwaiti-fagged oil tanker Al-Faiha, setting it
afire. No casualties were reported, but Kuwait protested. The company that owned the
tanker transferred ownership to one of its British-based subsidiaries so that the ship
would receive protection from the British Navy.
MID#2797
Dispute Number: 2797
Date(s): May 11, 1987 to May 27, 1988
Participants: 630 Iran/690 Kuwait
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: Iran attacked three Kuwaiti-flagged ships. On May 11, 1987, Iran warned
that Kuwait would “suffer” for looking for help from the United States and the Soviet
Union for protection of its oil fleets and attacked another Kuwait bound tanker. Iran
fired a missile at Kuwait from Iranian held territory in Iraq on September 4. Kuwait
ordered the expulsion of Iranian diplomats on September 7. On March 30, 1988,
Iranian speedboats fired on Bubiyan Island. Three Iranian patrol boats exchanged fire
with Kuwaiti forces and left two Kuwaitis wounded. On May 25, Kuwait reiterated a
policy of neutrality.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 20, 1988. Fatalities changed from
None.