Key facts
- GCC countries and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met to discuss Iran's actions and ensure free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
- The joint statement emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and addressing its regional threats.
- The partners rejected any tolls or attempts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran's IRGC asserted control over the Strait and attacked a cargo ship, contradicting US assurances.
- Future economic engagement with Iran is conditional on its compliance and cessation of destabilizing behavior.
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries convened with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to present a unified front against Iran and bolster their strategic partnership. The summit addressed the US-Iran framework deal and the critical need for unimpeded navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global waterway where Iran has asserted control.
The joint statement underscored a shared objective to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons and to counter its regional threats, including ballistic missiles and drone support for proxies. The GCC nations emphasized that lasting regional peace and security are contingent on Iran's compliance with agreements and cessation of destabilizing behavior.
Despite assurances from President Donald Trump regarding pre-war navigation status, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reiterated claims of sovereignty over the Strait and attacked a cargo ship, testing the limits of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding. The IRGC's actions were seen as an attempt to sow divisions among Gulf nations.
Rubio sought to reassure allies, describing the debate over potential Iranian tolls or fees as "semantics" and affirming that US actions would not undermine regional security. The GCC countries indicated that future economic engagement with Iran is possible but conditional on its adherence to the MOU and final agreement, as well as the halting of its destabilizing activities.
The partners also declared that peace negotiations are not contingent on outcomes of other conflicts, specifically referencing Iran's condition for Israel to end its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. They called for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other non-state armed groups to enable reconstruction and restore state authority, extending this call to Hamas in parallel with efforts to demilitarize the group for Gaza's reconstruction.
Reports emerged of potential regional summits between Gulf states and Iran, suggesting differing visions for the region's future. The Institute for the Study of War assessed that Iran might be using the discussions to secure sustained influence around the Strait and potentially limit US or Israeli partnerships in the Gulf. The UAE stated that new geopolitical facts cannot be imposed due to aggression, emphasizing that such impositions sow discord rather than stability, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz.