GCC Ministerial Council Condemns Iranian Attacks On GCC States And Calls For Unified Response

The GCC ministerial council held an extraordinary virtual session and strongly condemned recent Iranian attacks on Gulf states and Jordan. Members said the strikes breached international law, threatened Gulf security, and targeted civilian areas. The council confirmed that GCC countries may use their full legal right of self-defence under the United Nations Charter.

Ministers agreed that any assault on one GCC member is considered an attack on all. They highlighted commitments in the GCC Charter and the Joint Defence Agreement. The council said member states will take all necessary steps to protect territory, citizens, residents, and key infrastructure, including the option of a direct response to the Iranian attacks.

The 50th extraordinary meeting of the GCC ministerial council was held by video conference. It was chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and current council chair. The session focused on Iranian missile and drone strikes that began on Saturday against the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Representatives from all member states attended alongside GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. Saudi Arabia was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. Qatar was represented by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. Other foreign ministers and senior officials from Kuwait, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates also joined.

The council described the Iranian attacks as treacherous and unjustified. It said the strikes on GCC states and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan violated national sovereignty and the principle of good neighbourliness. Ministers stressed that such actions clearly breach international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and international humanitarian law, especially because they targeted civilians and civilian facilities.

Members praised the readiness and performance of GCC armed forces and air defence systems. They said these forces intercepted many missiles and drones with high professionalism. According to the council, these defensive actions reduced the impact of the Iranian attacks, limited damage, and helped protect lives, services, and strategic installations across the Gulf region.

The ministerial council said these Iranian operations hit service facilities, civilian infrastructure, and residential neighbourhoods in several member states. The strikes caused material losses and posed direct threats to the safety and security of citizens and residents. Ministers stressed that such targeting spread fear among innocent civilians and further destabilised Gulf security.

GCC ministerial council and Iranian attacks: diplomacy, Gulf security and global energy

Ministers underlined that GCC states had worked through diplomacy to avoid escalation with Iran. They noted that the Gulf countries had repeatedly assured Iran that their territories would not serve as platforms for attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Despite this, Iran continued military operations against GCC states, extending to many civilian and residential locations.

The council called for an immediate halt to the Iranian attacks. It said ending the strikes is essential to restore calm, regional peace, and wider Gulf security. The council also highlighted the need to protect airspace and sea lanes, safeguard regional waterways, maintain secure supply chains, and support stability in global energy markets that depend on the Arabian Gulf.

According to the ministerial council, the security of the Arabian Gulf is a global concern rather than a local matter. Ministers said regional instability threatens international trade routes and maritime navigation. They warned that further escalation could drag the region into dangerous paths and create severe consequences for international peace and security well beyond the GCC area.

The GCC ministerial council urged the international community to clearly condemn the Iranian attacks. It called on the UN Security Council to take prompt and firm action to stop these violations, protect civilians, and prevent similar incidents in future. The council expressed thanks to brotherly and friendly countries that denounced the attacks and supported GCC measures to protect sovereignty, security, and stability.

Ministers stressed that GCC states still support dialogue, negotiations, and peaceful solutions with the Islamic Republic of Iran. They praised the role of the Sultanate of Oman in promoting talks. The council said diplomacy remains the only path to resolve the current crisis and preserve Gulf security. At the end of the meeting, condolences were offered to victims’ families, and wishes for a speedy recovery were sent to the injured.

With inputs from SPA