His comments were a reference to the support Iran lent Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-91), and were made as American military bases in Kuwait came under fire by Iranian missiles. They took a downward turn when Kuwait aligned itself with Iraq after President Saddam Hussein invaded Iran in 1980, but became more cordial in the aftermath of the Gulf War. Iran and Kuwait had long maintained diplomatic, commercial and cultural ties, but Saddam’s war on Iran (1980-88) changed that. During the 1980s war, Iran was blamed for attacking Kuwaiti oil ships and targeting the US and French embassies, Kuwait International Airport, and the hijacking of Kuwait Airways flights. "Throughout the 1990s Iran and Kuwait expanded diplomatic dialogue, trade and security cooperation while managing their differences pragmatically,” Saleh explained.