GCC calls on Iran to stop its attacks and the Security Council to prevent violations and reserves the right to respond
An emergency Gulf ministerial meeting on Sunday evening called on the Security Council to shoulder its responsibilities by taking an immediate and firm stance to prevent Iranian violations.
This came in a statement issued by the 50th extraordinary meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council, which was held remotely, with the participation of foreign ministers to discuss the developments of Iranian aggression, according to a statement by the GCC.
“The Ministerial Council studied the significant damage caused by Iran’s treacherous attacks on Gulf countries, and the civilian facilities, service sites and residential areas they targeted,” the statement said.
The statement continued: “The great material damage it caused, a threat to the security, safety and lives of citizens and residents, and terror to the safe residents and residents”.
Since Saturday, Arab countries have been targeted by Iran with drones and missiles as part of Tehran’s response to the US-Israeli attack, which has been going on since that morning.
Tehran says its not targeting specific countries but US bases in the region, but the attacks have damaged civilian objects, including airports, ports and various buildings.
The GCC statement noted that the meeting discussed the necessary measures and steps to coordinate efforts aimed at restoring security, stability and achieving peace in the region.
The Council of Ministers expressed its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of these heinous Iranian aggressions that targeted the GCC countries as well as Jordan, in a serious violation of the sovereignty of these countries and the principles of good neighborliness.
These attacks are a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, whatever the pretexts and justifications, as well as the targeting of civilians and civilian objects, he said, in addition to a grave violation of the rules of international humanitarian law.
The Gulf Countries Council expressed full solidarity among the GCC States and their standing in one line to confront these attacks, stressing that the security of its countries is an indivisible whole, and that any attack on any member state is a direct attack on all GCC States, in accordance with the Statute of the GCC and the Mutual Defense Agreement.
According to the statement, “the GCC states reserve their legal right to respond, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the right of states to self-defense, individually and collectively, in the event of aggression, and to take all measures that preserve their sovereignty, security and stability”.
The statement stressed that in light of this unjustified Iranian aggression against the GCC states, they will take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability and protect their territories, citizens and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression.
“Despite the many diplomatic efforts made by the GCC countries to avoid escalation, and despite their assurance that their territory will not be used to launch any attack on Iran, the GCC has continued to carry out military operations against the GCC countries that have affected many civilian and residential facilities,” the statement said.
