GCC Sec Gen Urges Immediate Halt to Iranian Attacks

New york: Jassim Mohammed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in a high-level briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and the GCC under the agenda item "Cooperation between the United Nations and Regional and Sub-Regional Organisations in Maintaining International Peace and Security," with participation from distinguished members of the Security Council. According to Bahrain News Agency, Albudaiwi called on the United Nations Security Council to take all necessary measures to immediately halt Iranian attacks on GCC member states, to protect maritime passages, ensure the continuity of international navigation through all regional straits, and involve GCC countries in any talks or agreements with Iran. He emphasised that these steps are essential to strengthen security and stability in the region and prevent the recurrence of such attacks. The GCC Secretary General expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the invitation to participate in the ses sion and present the GCC's perspectives on cooperation with the United Nations. He said that his remarks were supposed to begin with highlighting the regional and international relations of the GCC. However, he noted, the Iranian aggression against GCC countries since 28 February 2026- which continues to this day, has made him shift to addressing these attacks. These aggressions, carried out using ballistic missiles and armed drones, have targeted vital civilian facilities, including airports, oil installations, water desalination plants, fuel terminals, service facilities, residential and commercial areas, and diplomatic missions, he said. The attacks have resulted in civilian and military casualties, significant material damage, and serious threats to the safety and lives of citizens and residents. In this context, Albudaiwi reiterated the GCC's strong condemnation of Iran's treacherous attacks, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of GCC states, the principles of good neighborliness, and clear breaches of international law and the UN Charter. He stressed that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure represents a grave violation of international humanitarian law and emphasised that such acts cannot be justified under any circumstances. He underlined the GCC's position that these attacks must cease immediately to restore security, peace, and stability in the region. He emphasised the importance of maintaining air and maritime security, protecting waterways, safeguarding supply chains, and ensuring the stability of global energy markets. Albudaiwi also said the GCC welcomed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemned the attacks and called for their cessation. He underscored the importance of full implementation of the resolution and of taking all measures to ensure compliance and prevent recurrence, thereby protecting regional and international peace and security. He emphasised the GCC states' inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Cha rter and confirmed that all necessary measures will be taken to safeguard their sovereignty, territorial integrity, citizens, and residents. He also stressed the Council's steadfast commitment to avoiding escalation that serves no one, noting that GCC states do not seek war but call for the peace, security, and stability that all peoples deserve. He underscored that dialogue and diplomacy remain the optimal means to resolve crises and warned that continued escalation would undermine regional security and lead to serious implications for international peace and security. Albudaiwi further explained that Iran's destabilising behavior in the Arabian Gulf has crossed all red lines, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking commercial ships and oil tankers, and imposing fees on some vessels. He also noted the expansion of the conflict through threats by the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, in violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He emphasised that the consequen ces of disrupted navigation extend beyond GCC states, affecting numerous countries worldwide that now face shortages of oil, gas, and related petrochemical and fertiliser products. He called on the Security Council to assume full responsibility and take all necessary measures to protect maritime passages and ensure the safe and continuous flow of international navigation. From this standpoint, he said the GCC underscores the importance of a Security Council resolution that authorises the use of all necessary means to protect navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, halt attacks on vessels, and ensure freedom of passage. He said that the GCC demanded that Iran ceases attacks on ships and maritime tankers to reach a sustainable solution for the security of vital shipping lanes. Albudaiwi also highlighted the GCC states' intent to establish normal relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and to work towards addressing all security concerns with transparency, including Iran's nuclear programme and the occupa tion of the three United Arab Emirates islands. He added that this would require steps to be taken by Iran to demonstrate good faith, including adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states and ending destabilising activities and support for armed militias. He noted that while this is the first time the GCC addresses the Security Council directly, it is by no means the first time the Council assumes international responsibilities. For decades, GCC countries have been reliable partners to the United Nations politically, humanitarianly, and economically, supporting programs and contributing to stability in multiple regions worldwide. He cited Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, which recognises regional organisations as genuine partners in collective security. In this context, he said, the GCC adopted its Regional Security Vision in March 2024, a significant document aiming to ensure security and stability in the region and globally. Albudaiwi highlighted that GCC-UN relations h ave deep roots since the Council's founding in 1981 and have strengthened over decades through institutional cooperation mechanisms, including memoranda of understanding with various UN agencies and specialised organisations. These frameworks have established regular consultations, information sharing, and coordination to enhance joint responses to regional and international challenges. A milestone in this partnership was UN General Assembly Resolution 79/295 on "Cooperation between the United Nations and the GCC," which signaled a new phase of strategic partnership and remains a foundation for managing regional crises effectively. He stressed that the GCC has never been a party to crises but a partner in solutions based on dialogue and diplomacy, supporting regional stability and coordinating with the UN and international partners in addressing crises, exemplifying a model of regional cooperation based on integration and accumulated expertise in promoting stability, dialogue, and reconciliation. Albudaiwi highlighted GCC humanitarian and development efforts in Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, and Syria, noting the Palestinian issue as the GCC's primary concern. He praised Saudi Arabia's leadership of the Arab-Islamic Committee on Gaza and the broader efforts of Qatar and GCC states to mediate ceasefires, secure humanitarian aid, and advocate for the two-state solution, culminating in the New York Declaration approved by the UN General Assembly in September 2025. Regarding Yemen, the Secretary General reaffirmed GCC support for UN-led efforts for a comprehensive political solution based on the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, and UNSC Resolution 2216, while highlighting GCC contributions to humanitarian and developmental aid. On Lebanon, Albudaiwi highlighted GCC efforts to support Lebanese sovereignty, enforce UNSC Resolution 1701, and ensure Israel respects borders, noting the human and infrastructural toll of Israeli military actions. For Syria, the Secretary General noted GCC initi atives to support stability, reintegration into the Arab and international community, and reconstruction, including lifting international sanctions and providing humanitarian and development assistance. Furthermore, Albudaiwi said that GCC development funds have contributed to supporting infrastructure, health, and social services globally, as well as recovery and reconstruction programs via international financial institutions. Between 2020 and 2025, GCC states provided over $14 billion in humanitarian aid, ranking the GCC collectively as the fourth-largest global donor, while promoting peace, conflict prevention, women and youth empowerment, food and environmental security, and dialogue and tolerance initiatives. The Secretary General emphasised the GCC's economic significance, with a combined GDP of $2.3 trillion in 2024, producing 16 million barrels of crude oil daily (22% of global production), exporting 27% of world crude oil, and holding 33% of global oil reserves and 21% of gas reserves, producing 4 42 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually. Albudaiwi warned that disruptions, such as the current events in the Strait of Hormuz, directly affect global markets, raising oil prices, shipping, and insurance costs, threatening energy security and global economic stability. In conclusion, Albudaiwi underscored that the current situation is not a temporary crisis but a test of the credibility of the international system. He said the GCC stands as an advocate of stability and a responsible partner that extends a hand for peace yet refuses to compromise its security, sovereignty, and regional stability. He added that the GCC will not accept that the region would be taken hostage to chaos or that the world economy would be threatened by closing waterways. He stressed that the Arabian Gulf, despite all challenges, will remain a region of stability and an active security partner, not a zone of conflict nor a burden to security.