Any agreement with Iran must include the demands of the Gulf states

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, said on Monday to Sky News Arabia that any agreement with Iran must include the demands of the Arab Gulf states, noting that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused a shock to the global economy.

Al-Budaiwi explained, “What we witnessed of the blatant Iranian attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with missiles and drones, their effects spread to the entire world, and constituted a pivotal and major turning point, not only at the level of Gulf national security, but also at the level of global security and stability.”

He added, “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused a major and terrible shock to the global economy, and we are now studying the repercussions of this shock on the global economy and where it will go.”

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council stressed that “any agreement with Iran must be comprehensive of all issues related to Iranian policies, and the countries of the region and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council must have a major and major role in formulating this agreement, and reflect their views and demands.”

He also considered that “any agreement with Iran should not be limited to the nuclear program, but rather should include its practices in the region, its support for separatists and dissidents, its policies, its export of the revolution, and its ballistic missile programs.”

He stressed that “security in the GCC countries has become more closely linked to the security and stability of the region and the world, and there must be clear, frank, understandable and comprehensive regional and international cooperation for security, including the security of the airspace and vital installations, the safety of civilians, and the security of energy and sea lanes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, through which more than 20 percent of the world’s oil and a large percentage of gas pass.”

Al-Budaiwi stated, “The direct threat to the GCC countries, which has affected civilian facilities and defenseless civilians, requires us to make intensive efforts in the Gulf to strengthen our military and defense integration, and to deal with these current and future risks with a different methodology than before that is faster and more effective.”

He pointed out that “the GCC countries were clear and serious in seeking normal relations with Iran, and held bilateral meetings with the Iranian side for this purpose, but at the present time the calculations have changed, and the policies of the GCC countries in current and future cooperation with Iran will be reviewed, while emphasizing our desire to reach a normal relationship with Tehran.”

Regarding the Arab League, Al Budawi said, “The Arab role is important and effective in ending the crisis and reducing the escalation, and we hope that the Arab brothers will carry out their assigned role at all levels, and as Dr. Anwar Gargash said, we want, just as we stood with the Arab countries in the days of prosperity, for the Arab countries to stand with us in times of distress.”

He also explained that “the Gulf Cooperation Council countries have held a number of meetings to coordinate defense efforts, there is an exchange of information, and they are making every effort to protect their countries, peoples and sovereignty.”