Iran slams US-GCC statement as ‘provocative’ amid regional tensions

Iran has strongly criticised a joint statement issued by the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), calling it “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative”. Tehran accused Washington and its Gulf allies of trying to pressure Iran after the recent US-Israeli conflict with the Islamic Republic.

In a statement issued on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry rejected the communique released after the GCC-US ministerial meeting in Bahrain on June 25. It said the statement misrepresented the situation in the region and repeated long-standing US and Israeli views on Iran’s nuclear programme, missile capabilities, regional alliances and the Strait of Hormuz.

The joint statement welcomed a June 17 memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran but said any future trade and investment with Tehran would be “conditional and reversible”. The ministers also repeated their goal of stopping Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and called for addressing the “full spectrum” of Iranian threats, including its ballistic missiles, drones and support for proxy groups.

The statement also rejected any attempts to impose tolls or control the Strait of Hormuz and stressed the importance of free navigation. It further called for the disarmament of non-state armed groups in Lebanon, in an apparent reference to Hezbollah.

Responding to the statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and urged GCC countries to work together for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East. He added that Iran is “more committed to the collective security of the region than any other party” and warned Gulf states against depending on the United States, calling it the “greatest violator of security”.

Iran also said its missile and drone programmes are part of its right to self-defence and are not open for negotiation. On the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials said any future security arrangements should include Tehran, in line with the recent memorandum of understanding with Oman.

Senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati said stability in the region has long depended on Iran’s management of the Strait of Hormuz rather than the presence of Western military forces.

The United States continues to maintain a large military presence in the Gulf, with troop numbers increasing to more than 50,000 during the recent tensions. Iran has repeatedly warned that countries hosting US military bases could face risks in the event of any future conflict.