Gulf states assert addressing Iranian threats inevitable for lasting regional peace

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the United States have declared that lasting regional peace is impossible without addressing Iranian threats. The joint ministerial meeting in Manama, Bahrain, underscored the critical need for unimpeded passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers from the GCC and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who co-chaired the meeting with Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani, rejected any tolls or assertions of control over the vital waterway. They affirmed that free, unconditional, and unrestricted navigation, including the right of transit passage under international law, is essential for both regional and global security.

The meeting also saw the announcement of an evacuation plan for over 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region, a joint initiative by Oman and the International Maritime Organization. The U.S. reiterated its commitment to the region, with Rubio reinforcing the enduring nature of the U.S. partnership with Gulf nations.