GCC Slams Iranian Remarks Targeting Bahrain and UAE Sovereignty

Manama: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, issued a strong condemnation of recent media statements by Iranian officials, branding them as containing "false claims and misleading accusations" that infringe upon the sovereignty of GCC member states. Specifically, Albudaiwi asserted that the Iranian remarks undermined the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the legitimate rights of the United Arab Emirates over the three islands currently under Iranian control—Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa—and the sovereign rights of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia over the jointly-owned Al-Durra offshore oil field.

Jasem Mohammed stressed that these statements violate fundamental principles of non-interference in internal affairs and disregard the crucial obligation of good-neighbourliness, contrasting them with the GCC's consistent good-faith efforts to expand relations with Iran while upholding the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Reiterating the GCC's steadfast commitment to peace and diplomatic dialogue, Albudaiwi called upon Iran to immediately cease issuing baseless allegations that erode trust and hinder constructive communication, emphasising that the region urgently requires greater cooperation and unity for collective stability and prosperity.