GCC, Iran address regional escalating tensions

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held an informal joint ministerial meeting with Iran to discuss the recent regional developments, on the sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit in Doha this week.

The Secretary-General of the Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, stressed the importance of reducing escalation, exercising maximum self-restraint, and sparing the region further instability.

Reuters news agency reported the GCC declared its neutrality regarding the conflict between Iran and Israel, after Iran launched a barrage of projectiles into Israel last Tuesday, threatening a wider regional conflict. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait said they will not permit the United States to use their airbase for military aggression against Iran.

Speaking at the event in Doha, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reiterated that any direct attack, terrorist activity, or breach of Iran’s red lines would prompt a decisive response from Iranian armed forces.

Tensions in the Middle East significantly increased after Israel intensified activity in Lebanon via airstrikes and a ground incursion in the south. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by Israel last Friday. Iran has vowed to retaliate after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, although had not responded until last Tuesday.

Israel said it would respond to the attack, prompting fears it might target Iranian oil infrastructure, threatening global supply and prices.