US, GCC welcome diplomatic engagement by Saudi Arabia, GCC states with Iran

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states, and the GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi met in New York on Monday.

They celebrated the strategic importance of the historic ties among the countries, as per a joint statement following the ministerial meeting of the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) released by the US Department of State.

During the meeting, the Ministers underscored shared commitment to build upon the achievements of previous ministerial meetings, including the most recent ministerial meeting in Riyadh on June 7, 2023, to strengthen consultation, coordination, and cooperation in all fields.

They reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region and their illegal determination to deter actions at sea or elsewhere that might threaten shipping lanes, international trade, and oil installations in the GCC states.

The Ministers underscored their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and renewed their call for Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

They once again called on Iran to cease its proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles and other dangerous weapons that pose a grave security threat to the region, as per the release by the US State Department.

The GCC and the United States reiterated their commitment to work together to deter and address threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity and other destabilizing activities.

The Ministers reiterated their support for the United Arab Emirates call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter. (ANI)