Kuwait has detained several people in a security probe, a government spokesman said on Monday, following media reports that a number of Kuwaitis and foreigners were being held on suspicion of spying for Iran. Kuwaiti media, including independent daily newspaper Al Qabas, have reported that a number of Kuwaitis and other nationals were arrested for gathering information for Iran on military sites in the Gulf Arab country. Iran has denied the reports.Asked about reports in the Kuwaiti press on the case, spokesman Mohammad Al Busairi told reporters in parliament: ‘There are suspects and they are under investigation.'
‘We cannot go into details ... on such national security issues because that would undoubtedly negatively affect investigations,' he said, adding the men would be referred to prosecution as soon as the probe was completed. He did not provide details of how many people were in custody.
Busairi's reserved comments, which did not mention Iran by name, were the first official confirmation of the reports although he said details published in the media were inaccurate.
Al-Qabas had said that the cell had spied on Kuwaiti and US military installations for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards.