Kuwait’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah has survived a parliamentary no-confidence vote by opposition members.

In a closed session, opposition members of the National Assembly called for a no-confidence vote over allegations that the premier has increased ties with neighbouring Iran, rather than with Gulf Arab states, parliament speaker Jassem al-Kharafi announced on 23 June, state-owned Kuwait News Agency reports.

Only 18 members of parliament voted for the motion, falling short of the 25 votes required to unseat the prime minister.

During parliamentary question on 15 May, the opposition accused Al-Sabah of undermining Kuwait’s national security by developing closer ties with Iran at the expense of Sunni-ruled Gulf states (MEED 18:3:11).

A new motion to question the prime minister was filed by two members of the assembly shortly after the announcement.