GCC renews condemnation of Iranian attacks on the region, warns against dragging Gulf states into the conflict

CAIRO - 22 MARCH 2026: The Gulf Cooperation Council has renewed its condemnation of what it described as Iranian attacks on countries in the region, warning that continued escalation is undermining de-escalation efforts and pushing the Middle East toward a wider, harder-to-control confrontation.

In a statement carried by Gulf and Arab media, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi said the ongoing attacks reflect an “escalatory approach” that threatens regional and international security. He also rejected what he described as Iranian claims attempting to blame GCC countries for military actions, calling those allegations baseless.

The GCC’s message, delivered as the region faces fast-moving military developments, focused on two core points: first, that Gulf states should not be treated as a battlefield or a “message route” in a larger war; and second, that any attempt to target the sovereignty, capabilities, or security of countries in the Gulf, as well as Jordan and Iraq, risks igniting a broader spiral with serious consequences for global stability.

The statement also comes as international concern grows over the knock-on effects of escalation on energy markets and maritime trade routes. Gulf officials have repeatedly framed freedom of navigation and the safety of critical sea lanes as a red line, warning that threatening shipping would widen the crisis beyond the region and hit the world economy directly.

While the GCC stopped short of announcing new measures, its language signaled a push to keep diplomatic pressure high, reinforce collective positioning, and underline that the region’s security should not be destabilized by cross-border strikes and retaliatory attacks.