Manama: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Jordan have condemned Iran's continued attacks on their territories, reaffirming their right to self-defence and calling on the UN Security Council to take urgent action.
According to TRTworld.com, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan issued a joint statement condemning the Iranian attacks, which have persisted since February 28 and intensified following the June 17 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. They highlighted that Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan have been particularly affected, with attacks targeting energy facilities, desalination plants, ports, airports, and other civilian infrastructure.
The statement denounced the attacks as acts of aggression, violating the UN Charter, international law, international humanitarian law, and UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), as well as Iran's commitments under the memorandum of understanding. It reaffirmed the countries' inherent right to individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, pledging to take all lawful measures to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, commercial shipping, and critical infrastructure.
The GCC and Jordan welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's decision to ensure all weapons are under state control by September 30, supporting measures by Baghdad to prevent Iran-backed armed groups from launching further attacks against regional countries. They urged the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution demanding an immediate end to Iranian attacks and recognizing the affected countries' right to self-defence, considering additional measures if the attacks continue.
The statement also praised the armed forces of the seven countries for defending their sovereignty and civilian populations, reaffirming their commitment to freedom and safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al Mandeb Strait. The countries expressed their readiness to work with regional states and the International Maritime Organisation to establish permanent maritime arrangements consistent with international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, state sovereignty, and good-neighbourly relations.
Furthermore, the statement reiterated full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, supporting its measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security, while commending Saudi Arabia and Oman for their diplomatic efforts to reach a comprehensive and lasting political solution to the crisis in Yemen.