Gulf states, Jordan reaffirm right to self-defence amid continued Iranian attacks

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and Jordan have condemned Iran’s continued attacks on their territories, reaffirming their right to self-defence and calling on the UN Security Council to take urgent action.

In a joint statement on Thursday, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan said Iranian attacks against their territories, citizens and civilian infrastructure had continued uninterrupted since February 28 and had intensified even after the June 17 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

They said Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan had been particularly affected by attacks targeting energy facilities, desalination plants, ports, airports and other civilian infrastructure.

The attacks constituted “acts of aggression” that violated the UN Charter, international law, international humanitarian law, UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), and Iran’s commitments under the memorandum of understanding, they added.

The statement reaffirmed the countries’ inherent right to individual and collective self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter, vowing to take “all lawful measures necessary to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, commercial shipping and critical infrastructure.”