GCC Secretary-General urges Russia to support efforts to halt Iranian attacks, safeguard regional security

MANAMA, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi on Sunday called on Russia to play an active role in urging Iran to halt attacks on GCC states, respect freedom of navigation and engage in dialogue based on good-neighborliness and respect for sovereignty.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi (File photo: Xinhua)

Albudaiwi made the remarks at the 9th Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the GCC and Russia in Manama, the GCC General Secretariat reported. GCC Foreign Ministers and their Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, attended the meeting.

The GCC Secretary-General said the meeting came at an exceptionally critical juncture, with GCC states facing unprecedented attacks that threatened their security and sovereignty, as well as maritime navigation and energy supplies.

According to Albudaiwi, Iranian attacks on GCC states since Feb. 28 involved more than 7,000 ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, targeting airports, ports, power stations, desalination plants and oil and gas facilities.

He added that the attacks were accompanied by Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia, including what he described as a major attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Oct. 10 that killed 12 people and injured more than 300 others.

Albudaiwi reaffirmed the GCC's solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures taken to protect the kingdom's security and sovereignty, while calling on the international community to adopt a firm stance against attacks targeting the kingdom.

He also criticized disruptions to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and threats to shipping in Bab al-Mandab and the Red Sea, saying such actions posed risks to global energy security, food security and international supply chains.

The GCC chief called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and said the bloc looked to Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to encourage Iran to comply with the resolution.

Albudaiwi said GCC states attach particular importance to strengthening relations with Russia and expanding cooperation in political, trade, cultural, educational, agricultural, health and energy fields under the 2023-2028 Joint Action Plan.