A statement issued on Wednesday following the 167th ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in Bahrain, said that Iran’s “hostile” actions do not serve understanding or rapprochement.
– Instead, they “drive peoples further apart, undermine the foundations of trust, sow division, and shut down the channels of dialogue that Gulf states have long advocated,” the statement said.
– “Aggression does not build relationships, and intimidation does not create stability,” it said.
– The GCC ministerial council reaffirmed the Gulf states’ commitment to peace, good-neighborly relations, and diplomatic solutions as the preferred means of resolving disputes. The statement also posed a question to “the aggressor party – Iran”: how can future relations be built while such attacks continue and are actively pursued? The council warned that persisting with a policy of aggression would lead “only to greater isolation,” while emphasizing that the door remains open to dialogue for those who choose the “path of wisdom and good-neighborliness.”
– The GCC ministerial meeting was held on Wednesday in Manama, Bahrain, as Bahraini air defenses intercepted Iranian attacks in the early hours of the morning. Kuwait and Jordan were also targeted.
– The council strongly condemned Iran’s “brutal” attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, calling them a “blatant” assault on the sovereignty of those states, the security of their populations, and the integrity of their territory. It said the attacks constituted a clear violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the principles of good-neighborly relations.
– The council also expressed its full solidarity with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, stressing that the security of GCC member states is indivisible and that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
– The GCC reaffirmed what it described as the legitimate and established right of its member states to defend themselves individually and collectively, and to respond to the attacks through all lawful means. It cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which recognizes the inherent right of states to self-defense if they are subjected to armed attack.
– The statement also sought to reassure citizens and residents of Gulf countries, saying that the region’s joint defense capabilities and air-defense systems were confronting these attacks with a “high degree of effectiveness and readiness.” It added that GCC leaders remain committed to preserving regional security and stability, and stated that such attacks would “only strengthen unity, determination, and resolve” among Gulf populations.
– The GCC statement held Iran fully responsible for the attacks and their “dangerous consequences” for regional security, international shipping, and global energy supplies. It called for an immediate halt to the attacks and demanded that Iran cease targeting GCC states, their interests, and their citizens.
– The council also urged the UN Security Council and the wider international community to fulfill their responsibilities by condemning the attacks and holding those responsible accountable, in order to uphold state sovereignty and preserve regional and international peace and security.