In the final statement of its 168th meeting, chaired by Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, the foreign minister of Bahrain, held in Manama, the Gulf Cooperation Council identified the Islamic Republic as "fully responsible" for missile and drone attacks on the member countries of this council. This meeting took place on Sunday and addressed the consequences of these attacks.
Emphasis on the Responsibility of the Islamic Republic
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council stated in this statement that these attacks targeted civilian centers, diplomatic missions, and residential areas in member countries as well as Jordan. They rejected the justifications of the Islamic Republic in this regard and strongly condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly the attack near the Holy Shrines and civilian airports.
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Furthermore, the council called for the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group and emphasized the necessity of ending support for this group's access to missiles and drones. It also stressed the implementation of Security Council resolutions 2216 and 2722, including arms sanctions.
The Right to Defense and the Necessity of Diplomacy
The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council noted that "any aggression against any member country is a direct aggression against all countries of the Cooperation Council" and reminded of the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This statement also emphasized the importance of returning to dialogue and diplomacy, but added that any agreement must include the Islamic Republic's nuclear and missile programs and support for proxy groups.
The Gulf Cooperation Council emphasized that member countries must participate in any negotiations that affect their security. This issue is particularly important in conditions where regional security is at risk.
At the end of the statement, the importance of maintaining security in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Red Sea was emphasized, and the Islamic Republic was asked to restore the conditions of the Strait of Hormuz to the status before March 1.
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