During a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers in Bahrain, attended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Gulf Arab nations reaffirmed the need to curb threats attributed to the Islamic Republic. The meeting’s final communiqué stated that lasting peace and stability in the region are impossible without addressing Tehran’s ballistic missile program, drones, and support for proxy groups.
The participants also declared that any expansion of economic ties with Iran, including trade and investment, depends entirely on the Islamic Republic’s level of compliance with recent understandings with the U.S. and potential future agreements. They emphasized that these ties could be halted or rolled back in the event of any breach of commitments.
This stance comes as Tehran and Washington, having reached an initial understanding to de-escalate tensions, continue negotiations to secure a final accord. During the session, Gulf Arab states demanded that their security considerations and regional interests be fully integrated into any prospective agreement with the Islamic Republic.
