The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has strongly condemned Iranian missile and drone attacks against GCC member states and Jordan, affirming that the bloc reserves its legal right to respond and will take all necessary measures to defend its security and stability.
Meeting in its 50th extraordinary session via videoconference on Sunday, the Council was chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Council President, HE Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
The participants were Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs HE Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Oman’s Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah and GCC Secretary-General HE Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
The meeting was convened to discuss Iranian missile and drone attacks that began on Saturday, February 28, targeting the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
The Council reviewed what it described as extensive damage resulting from these ‘treacherous’ attacks, which struck civilian facilities, service sites, and residential areas, caused significant material damage, threatened the safety and lives of citizens and residents, and spread fear among the population.
Ministers also discussed the necessary measures and steps to coordinate efforts aimed at restoring security and stability and achieving peace in the region.
In its statement, the Ministerial Council rejected and condemned in the strongest terms the Iranian attacks on GCC countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stating that they constitute a serious violation of sovereignty, the principles of good neighbourliness, and a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, regardless of any justifications or pretexts.
It emphasised that targeting civilians and civilian objects represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The Council stressed that the security of GCC member states is indivisible and that any attack against one member state is considered a direct attack against all, in accordance with the GCC Charter and the Joint Defense Agreement.
It affirmed that GCC countries reserve their legal right to respond under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which guarantees the right of individual and collective self-defence in the event of aggression, and to take all necessary measures to safeguard their sovereignty, security and stability.
The Ministerial Council commended the efficiency and readiness of member states’ armed forces and air defence systems, noting that they successfully intercepted missile and drone attacks with a high level of professionalism, contributing to neutralising the threat, mitigating its impact and protecting lives, facilities and vital assets.
In light of what it described as unjustified Iranian aggression, the Council affirmed that GCC countries will take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and to protect their territories, citizens and residents, including the option of responding to the attacks.
The statement noted that GCC states had undertaken numerous diplomatic efforts to avoid escalation and had affirmed that their territories would not be used to launch any attacks against Iran. Despite this, it said, Iran continued to carry out military operations targeting GCC countries and affecting numerous civilian and residential facilities.
The Council underscored the necessity of an immediate cessation of the attacks to restore security, peace, and stability in the region. It highlighted the vital importance of maintaining aerial and maritime security, protecting regional waterways, ensuring the integrity of supply chains, and guaranteeing the stability of global energy markets, stressing that stability in the Arabian Gulf region is a fundamental pillar of global economic stability and maritime navigation.
The Ministerial Council called on the international community to strongly condemn and denounce the attacks and urged the United Nations Security Council to fulfil its responsibilities by taking an immediate and firm stance to prevent such violations, protect civilian lives, and ensure that these actions are not repeated, given their grave repercussions for regional and international peace.
It expressed gratitude to brotherly and friendly nations that condemned the Iranian attacks, expressed solidarity with the GCC, and supported measures taken by member states to protect their sovereignty, security, and stability.
The Council reiterated that GCC states have consistently advocated dialogue, negotiations and the peaceful resolution of all issues with Iran, praising the role of Oman in this regard.
The Ministerial Council reaffirmed that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only path to overcoming the current crisis and preserving regional security and the safety of its peoples, warning that any further escalation would undermine regional security and push the region toward dangerous trajectories with potentially catastrophic consequences for international peace and security.
In conclusion, the Council expressed its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
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