Kuwait (Kuwait) (AFP) - A well-known restaurant in Kuwait City was forced to remove references to Iranian food from its name, in a move that reflects the concern of a community rooted for decades in a country that has been subjected to Iranian strikes since the start of the war in the Middle East.

Published on: 09/03/2026 - 11:55

The famous restaurant, whose manager refused to have pictures taken during a tour by an Agence France-Presse team, is located in one of the most prominent commercial complexes in Kuwait. There was a long line of Kuwaiti and foreign customers waiting for their turn to eat dinner on a mid-week day.

An employee at the restaurant, who refused to reveal his identity, said, “The restaurant’s business was not affected by the war,” but “the management decided to remove the phrase ‘Iranian food’ from the restaurant’s name due to the sensitivity of the matter.”

The name of the restaurant can actually be read abroad without any indication of its specialty.

Hussein, who spent more than half his life selling fabrics in Kuwait, and who preferred to use a pseudonym, said with clear apprehension and in Arabic to Agence France-Presse, "We are going through a very difficult time."

The man from the city of Shiraz in south-central Iran continued, "We certainly feel sad. We have lived here for many years and we do not want problems between the two countries," describing Kuwait as his "second country."

Hussein works in the heritage market of Mubarakiya in Kuwait, where Iranians make up approximately 40 percent of all workers.

Since the start of the war against Iran on February 28, oil and vital facilities in Kuwait, in addition to military bases that Tehran says are used by the United States in its attacks against it, have been subjected to Iranian strikes, the last of which was on Thursday morning.

At least 15 people were killed in the Iranian attacks on Kuwait, including six American soldiers and four Kuwaiti soldiers, in addition to five foreign civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse count based on official data.

An 11-year-old Iranian girl was one of the first civilian victims in the Iranian attacks on Kuwait.

Hussein arrived in Kuwait when he was seventeen years old, full of ambition to achieve success and wealth. Today, he is 35 years old and runs a large textile shop with several branches in the capital of the oil-rich Gulf country. He says he doesn't want to lose what he built.

About 52,000 Iranians live in Kuwait, most of whom work in sectors that depend on low-cost labor, such as fishing, vegetable sales, and bakeries, as well as the textile and carpet sectors, in which Iranians are known for their skill.

Although their lives were not affected by the war, it is natural for Iranians to fear the repercussions of Tehran’s repeated attacks on Kuwait, according to what a number of community members said during the preparation of the report that occurred before the last round of attacks.

Also in the gold market in Mubarakiya, Ali, a pseudonym for a thirty-something Iranian, says, “We just want to live and earn a living.”

The young man points out, standing in front of a screen displaying global gold prices, “We were not harmed or persecuted, but there is a general feeling of anxiety and fear.”

"We feel stuck in the middle," he continues.

The Iranian authorities suspended direct flights between the two countries on February 28 until further notice, which prevents Hussein from traveling to visit his daughter, whom he has not seen since.

Before the war, Kuwait operated dozens of direct flights weekly to Iranian destinations, most notably Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad.

"Our relationship is still good"

The volume of trade exchange between Kuwait and Iran reached about $300 million in the year 2024, according to what the Kuwaiti media reported from an official in the joint chamber of commerce between the two countries.

Iranian exports to Kuwait are concentrated in food and agricultural products, fish, carpets, and building materials, according to the same source.

Hussein's great-uncle has been working in Kuwait for more than half a century, as have thousands of Iranians who have built strong ties with Kuwaiti society, of which more than 20 percent of the population are Shiites.

While a Kuwaiti woman asked him about the availability of high-end Iranian velvet fabric, Hussein confirmed with a smile, “My business has not been affected. Our relationship with Kuwaiti customers is still good.”

This was confirmed by two other sellers to AFP.

Following the outbreak of the war, the Kuwaiti authorities launched a campaign against anyone who showed any sympathy or support for Iran, and arrested cells that they said were linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

In August, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Education decided to close the only Iranian school in the country, according to what a source in the ministry told AFP, without providing a reason for the decision.

Washington and Tehran reached a ceasefire agreement in April, and signed a memorandum of understanding in June. However, the two sides resumed hostilities in July for days before the situation calmed down, and then the confrontation was renewed since Sunday evening.

Since the declared ceasefire, Tehran has focused its responses to the US strikes on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

In Mubarakiya Market, an Iranian seller displays his country's famous sweets, such as Sohan fingers made of saffron and nuts, and Rahash made of tahini sweets, which are widely accepted by patrons.

A Kuwaiti woman in her fifties who refused to identify Asmahan said as she looked at the goods, “Iranians are everywhere here. They are part of Kuwait’s history and it is unthinkable to dispense with them.”

© 2026 AFP

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