In light of recent regional developments and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf held its 48th extraordinary meeting via video conference on Monday, June 16, 2025. The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, with the participation of:
His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates,
His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain,
His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman,
His Excellency Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar.
His Excellency Shaikh Jarrah Al Jaber Al Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait.
And His Excellency Jassem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
After discussing these developments, the following statement was issued:
1. The Ministerial Council condemned Israel’s attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. The Council stressed the need to return to the diplomatic track.
2. The Ministerial Council expressed the need for an immediate ceasefire to safeguard regional security and stability, and for all parties to exert joint efforts to de-escalate the situation, adopt diplomacy as an effective means of resolving conflicts, exercise maximum restraint, and spare the region and its people the dangers of war.
3. The Ministerial Council emphasized the importance of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in preventive security, warning of the serious human and environmental consequences of attacks on nuclear facilities, which constitute a threat to safety and the Comprehensive Safeguards System, and are in violation of international law and international humanitarian law, which prohibit the targeting of nuclear facilities.
4. The Ministerial Council called on the Security Council and the international community to assume their responsibilities towards bringing an immediate end to this war and preventing escalation, given its serious repercussions for regional and international peace. The Council also for the continuation of nuclear talks, facilitated by the Sultanate of Oman, between the United States and Iran.
5. The Ministerial Council stressed the need to adhere to the basic foundations of international law including the United Nations Charter, and the principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and refraining from the use or threat of force.
6. The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of maintaining maritime security, and security of waterways in the region, and confronting activities that threaten the security and stability of the region and the world, including targeting commercial vessels, threatening maritime shipping lanes, international trade, and oil facilities in the GCC states member.
Issued on Monday, June 16, 2025