Manama: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassim Al-Budaiwi stated on Wednesday that the security of Gulf states is 'indivisible,' urging a return to dialogue amidst rising tensions between Iran and the United States.

According to Anadolu Agency, Al-Budaiwi criticized Iran for violating international and humanitarian law with its attacks on Gulf states during a GCC ministerial meeting held in Manama, Bahrain. He emphasized that restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz not only harm the Gulf states but also the global economy. Al-Budaiwi called for the resumption of dialogue and diplomacy as a means to resolve the ongoing conflict.

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani echoed these sentiments, describing the Iranian attacks as a 'clear violation of international law.' In a final communique released after the meeting, the GCC bloc condemned Iranian drone and ballistic missile attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The communique labeled these actions as 'a blatant violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the sovereignty of the targeted states.'

The GCC ministers reiterated that the security of member states is 'indivisible,' asserting that an attack on one member state constitutes an attack on all. The statement expressed 'full solidarity' with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, holding Iran 'fully responsible' for the attacks and their impact on regional security, international navigation, and energy supplies. The GCC urged Tehran to immediately cease any targeting of GCC states, their interests, and citizens.

The ministers affirmed the right of GCC countries to defend themselves both individually and collectively, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. They called upon the UN Security Council and the international community to condemn the Iranian attacks and to hold those responsible accountable. Despite the condemnation, the GCC reiterated its commitment to resolving regional disputes through dialogue, diplomacy, and good-neighborly relations.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced earlier on Wednesday that it had launched retaliatory attacks on 21 American military targets at US air and naval bases across the region, including those in Kuwait and Bahrain. These attacks followed US strikes in southern Iran after the downing of a US Apache helicopter.

This latest escalation is part of a cycle of military confrontations, retaliatory attacks, and diplomatic disputes that have been unfolding since February 28, following Israeli and US strikes on Iran. Recent exchanges between Iran and Israel further underscore the fragility of the ceasefire and the ongoing efforts by regional and international mediators to revive diplomacy and prevent a broader conflict.