New york: The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, representing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states, has dispatched identical letters to the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN Security Council. The letters, dated March 9, 2026, address the ongoing Iranian attacks targeting multiple GCC member states.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the correspondence acts as a follow-up to the GCC states’ earlier communication on March 4, 2026. This action comes in response to claims made by Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN during a March 6 press briefing, alleging that damage in certain GCC states resulted from air defense interceptions.
The letter categorically refutes these allegations, asserting they are an effort to shirk legal responsibility for unlawful attacks on civilian facilities and vital infrastructure within the GCC states. It highlights that since February 28, 2026, Iranian missile and drone attacks represent a direct violation of GCC sovereignty and breach the UN Charter and international law. These attacks have targeted critical civilian infrastructure, such as airports, ports, and residential areas.
The letter also challenges Iran’s claim of targeting only military facilities, arguing it is misleading and endangers millions of civilians. The GCC states reject Iran’s invocation of Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify the attacks, labeling them as legally unfounded and a breach of the prohibition on force use.
Furthermore, the letter places full responsibility for casualties and damages on Iran. It praises the GCC’s air defense forces for their prompt response in intercepting numerous attacks, minimizing potential losses. The letter also acknowledges the global condemnation from the UN Secretary-General and other nations describing the attacks as unjustified.
The GCC states conclude by reaffirming their right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. They urge the UN Security Council to uphold its duty in preserving international peace by condemning the attacks and demanding their immediate halt.