Tehran condemned a joint US‑Gulf Cooperation Council statement as “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative,” accusing Washington and its Gulf allies of using diplomacy to exert pressure after the recent US‑Israeli strikes on Iran. In a statement on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the communiqué issued after a GCC‑US ministerial meeting in Bahrain on June 25, saying it distorted regional realities and echoed US and Israeli positions on Iran’s nuclear programme, missile capabilities, regional allies and the Strait of Hormuz.
What Did the US‑GCC Statement Say?
The US‑GCC statement emerged from talks in Manama co‑chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, with participation from Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The ministers welcomed the June 17 memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran but tied any future economic engagement to strict conditions.
They declared “any trade and investment with Iran is conditional and reversible” and reaffirmed “the shared objective of preventing Iran from ever developing or otherwise acquiring a nuclear weapon.” The statement also emphasized that “lasting regional peace and security requires addressing the full spectrum of Iran’s threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones, and support of proxies in the region.” It rejected “any tolls, fees, or attempts to assert control over the strait,” insisting that free and unrestricted navigation remains essential.
On Lebanon, the ministers noted that full Lebanese sovereignty cannot be achieved while non‑state armed groups maintain capabilities outside state authority—an apparent reference to Hezbollah. They called for the full disarmament of such groups and the restoration of the Lebanese state’s monopoly of force, while supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The ministers also welcomed ongoing bilateral negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the United States, aimed at creating conditions for a lasting peace and security agreement.
What Did Iran Say?
Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the joint US‑GCC statement as “interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative.” Tehran accused the United States and Israel of fabricating allegations concerning its peaceful nuclear programme and urged GCC states to cooperate on establishing a nuclear‑weapon‑free zone in the Middle East.
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Gulf states were “making a mistake in seeking protection from the greatest violator of security,” referencing the US, and stressed that Iran’s national security and dignity were non‑negotiable. “The inherent right to legitimate self‑defence is not open to discussion, nor are the means of this defence subject to bargaining or concession,” he added in a post on X.
Tehran argued that the use of regional bases during recent US and Israeli strikes demonstrated that Washington did not value the security of its Gulf partners. It called on countries whose territory was used to reconsider their stance, citing obligations under international law and the principle of good neighbourliness to prevent hostile acts against Iran.
Iran also criticised the labeling of Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups as “Iranian proxies,” stating that such language ignored Israel’s continued occupation and placed undue pressure on groups resisting Israeli military power.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Iran asserted that disruptions were a direct result of US and Israeli military action. It emphasized that the strait lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and that its future management will be governed by Article 5 of the recently signed memorandum of understanding. The 14‑point MoU states that Iran will conduct dialogue with Oman to define future administration and maritime services in the strait, in coordination with other Gulf littoral states and in accordance with applicable international law and sovereign rights.
US Military Presence in the Gulf
Iran has repeatedly warned that US bases in the Gulf increase host‑nation vulnerability in any confrontation. Since the war’s onset, Iran has struck some 20 US military sites. The United States maintains roughly 40,000 troops across the region, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The figure rose above 50,000 after President Donald Trump escalated the conflict against Iran.
Recent reporting by The Wall Street Journal indicates that Washington is considering adjustments to its Gulf posture, potentially reducing its footprint in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, refurbishing facilities in Bahrain, and relocating some assets to Israel.
Is Iran Posing as a Security Guarantor?
Nominated Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz could not be guaranteed under arrangements that excluded Tehran. “Any credible framework must be based on coordination with Iran and the provisions of paragraph five of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding,” he wrote on X, adding that failure to do so would lead to suspension of the designated parallel route.
Senior adviser to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati asserted that Gulf stability has long depended on Iran’s stewardship of the strait rather than Western military power. In another post on X, he cautioned peripheral states that “your survival feeds off the scraps of this table” and declared that “in the great realignment, peripheral minor players have no seat at the table.” Their strategic survival, he added, is at the mercy of Tehran’s tolerance.
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