Gulf States Face Relentless Iranian Attacks

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the GCC Ministerial Council for the current session, led the Gulf Cooperation Council delegation at the third High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation between the GCC and the European Union, held at EU headquarters in Brussels.

Addressing regional security, Dr. Al Zayani warned that the Gulf continues to face serious challenges stemming from ongoing Iranian attacks. He welcomed European condemnation of Iranian aggression against GCC states, Jordan, and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, including direct strikes on the Saudi tanker Wadiyan and the Qatari tanker Al Rukayat. He stressed that attacks targeting civilians are wholly unjustifiable under any circumstances.

Dr. Al Zayani further highlighted that the Council of the International Maritime Organization had strongly condemned Iran's attempt to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. He urged all countries to refuse recognition of any Iranian sovereignty claims over the strategic waterway, and to reject any permit or fee system Iran seeks to impose on vessels transiting the internationally vital strait.