DUBAI: The European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council on Thursday condemned what they described as “unjustifiable” Iranian attacks on Gulf states and affirmed the right of GCC countries to defend themselves.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, participated in the extraordinary ministerial meeting, alongside GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and the Gulf, Dubravka Šuica.
In a joint statement, the EU reaffirmed its solidarity with Gulf nations and said the attacks by Iran threatened regional and global security.
The ministers called on Iran to immediately halt its strikes and stressed the need to protect civilians and respect international law.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis and agreed to pursue joint diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and halting the proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones.
The statement added that Gulf states have the right to take all necessary measures to defend their security and stability under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Ministers also emphasized the importance of safeguarding regional airspace, maritime routes and global energy supplies, including through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab El-Mandeb.
Al-Budaiwi said during the meeing that the GCC states "will not accept being a target for aggression, an arena for proxy conflicts, or a victim of deception and bad faith."
"Respect for international law is the only path to ensuring peace and stability in the region," he added.
The secretary-general said Iran's strikes had targeted "vital civilian facilities, including ports, airports, and basic infrastructure, in flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law, and even extended to the sanctity of diplomatic missions."
He said the attacks came despite GCC countries repeatedly affirming to Iran that their territories would not be used to launch any attack against Tehran.
He said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the targeting of commercial vessels threatened global trade and international energy security.
