Gulf Cooperation Council Statement on Recent Events Between Iran and Israel
Arabian Sea - Exclusive
In light of the developments in the region and the Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf held its 48th extraordinary meeting via video conference on Monday, 20 Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH, corresponding to June 16, 2025 AD, chaired by His Excellency / Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and with the participation of: His Excellency / Khalifa Shaheen Al-Marar, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates. His Excellency Dr. / Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain. His Royal Highness / Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. His Excellency Mr. / Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman. His Excellency Sheikh / Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar. His Excellency Sheikh / Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. And His Excellency / Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. After discussing these developments, the following was reached: 1. The Ministerial Council condemned the Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which affect its sovereignty and security, and constitute a blatant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, stressing the need to return to the diplomatic track. 2. The Ministerial Council expressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to preserve the security and stability of the region, and for all parties to make joint efforts to de-escalate and adopt diplomacy as an effective way to resolve disputes, exercise maximum restraint, and spare the region and its peoples the dangers of wars. 3. The Ministerial Council affirmed the importance of the role played by the International Atomic Energy Agency in promoting preventive security, warning of the effects of striking nuclear facilities due to their serious human and environmental risks, which constitutes a threat to safety and the comprehensive safeguards system, and is contrary to international law and international humanitarian law, which prohibits targeting nuclear facilities. 4. The Ministerial Council called on the Security Council and the international community to assume their responsibilities towards an immediate cessation of this war and the prevention of escalation, due to its serious repercussions on regional and international peace, and to push towards the continuation of the American-Iranian negotiations on the Iranian nuclear file, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman. 5. The Ministerial Council affirmed the need to adhere to the foundations and basic principles based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law conventions, the principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, and the non-use of force or the threat thereof. 6. The Ministerial Council affirmed the importance of maintaining maritime security and waterways in the region, and confronting activities that threaten the security and stability of the region and the world, including targeting commercial ships, threatening maritime navigation lines and international trade, and oil installations in the GCC countries.
