GCC on High Alert as Israel-Iran Conflict Threatens Regional Stability
KUWAIT CITY, June 16: As direct hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate into what observers are describing as a phase of near-total military devastation, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened an emergency meeting to address the widening regional crisis and reinforce calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Now entering its fourth day, the unprecedented confrontation between the two arch-rivals has seen strikes deep within both countries' territories, raising fears of a broader conflict with severe global repercussions. Amid growing international pressure to end the violence, Kuwait has ramped up its diplomatic engagement, with Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya—current chair of the GCC Ministerial Council—presiding over the Council's 48th extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers.
The meeting, held to assess regional and global developments, focused on enhancing joint Gulf action and intensifying diplomatic efforts to safeguard regional security and stability. In a strongly worded statement, the GCC Ministerial Council condemned Israel's military attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing them as a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty, international law, and the United Nations Charter.
The Council emphasized the urgent need to return to diplomatic dialogue and called for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further regional destabilization. Particular concern was voiced over the risk of targeting nuclear facilities, a move that could have catastrophic consequences for both human safety and environmental security.
The Council urged the United Nations Security Council and the broader international community to intervene decisively, halt the conflict, and facilitate the resumption of stalled U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations—efforts currently being mediated by the Sultanate of Oman.
Reaffirming its commitment to maritime security, the GCC also highlighted the critical need to protect shipping lanes and commercial vessels across the region. The Council warned against continued attacks on oil infrastructure and trade routes, noting the potential impact on global energy markets and regional economies.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi echoed calls for restraint, warning that continued military escalation could push the region into a full-blown war with unpredictable and uncontrollable consequences. He urged all involved parties to refrain from further military actions and to prioritize diplomatic solutions.
In anticipation of possible fallout, Al-Budaiwi also announced the activation of the GCC Emergency Management Center, tasked with monitoring environmental and radiation safety. 'So far, all technical indicators remain within safe limits and there is no immediate cause for concern,' he said, adding that the region remains on full alert to ensure maximum readiness for any developments.
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Kuwait Times
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How much damage has Zionist entity inflicted on Iran nuke program?
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Arab Times
9 hours ago
- Arab Times
GCC on High Alert as Israel-Iran Conflict Threatens Regional Stability
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Arab Times
11 hours ago
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My friend Abbas ... and Iran-Israel conflict
Recently, Iran and Israel have dealt a blow to analysts and experts who long denied the existence of genuine hostility between them. Through their actions, both countries have disproved the claims that their apparent disputes and exchanged threats were merely tactics designed to mask behind-the-scenes cooperation and strategic harmony. These analysts had argued that Iran and Israel shared a common goal, which is to intimidate and manipulate the Arab world. Israel not only destroyed the majority of Iran's nuclear facilities, but, for the second time in history, it eliminated the entire top echelon of a hostile state's leadership without deploying a single soldier and without incurring any significant material losses to date. The first time was during its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Neutral observers believe that the situation is unlikely to conclude with any form of Iranian surrender. However, the loss of Iran's military, revolutionary, nuclear, and intelligence leadership may compel the regime to reconsider its strategic calculations, shift focus inward, and employ various methods to silence the opposition. The outcome we have reached was entirely predictable, and I have said so repeatedly. Weapons, no matter how advanced, dangerous, or effective, are meaningless without the human capacity to operate them. That human capacity must be grounded in the same freedoms, self-respect, and critical thinking enjoyed by citizens in the West. It must also be free from extremism and guided by the belief that the weapon of knowledge is the most powerful when placed in strong, educated hands. If I were in the place of Iran's adversaries, I would not have hesitated to do exactly what they did, which is to eliminate its ambitions to acquire a nuclear weapon. I simply do not trust Iran's intentions in this regard, especially given that it is the most extremist religious state in the region. The eight-year Iran-Iraq war stands as the clearest evidence that Iran is largely indifferent to the scale of losses that might result from the use of nuclear weapons. This isn't to suggest that I sympathize with Israel, as quite the opposite may be true. I am simply speaking from the perspective of a devil's advocate. My friend Abbas often says, 'Iran possesses all the elements of survival, resilience, resistance, and retaliation. We must recognize that Iran has, throughout its history, absorbed the patience of chess players and the precision of carpet weavers. We must support it. Iran is the last line of defense against Israel's growing ambitions to reshape the Middle East into a region completely loyal to its vision. Israel will use its military, financial, and technological power to bring everyone under the umbrella of the Abraham Accords. That would be a disaster for Arabs and Muslims. If that happens, we will lose all sense of identity and dignity, and become captives to Israel's agenda.' I told my friend Abbas that I fully understand his fears, as preserving our dignity is indeed our ultimate goal. But has the Iranian way of life become our ideal? Is Iran truly prepared to treat us as equals, respect our minds, and grant us the freedoms of expression, thought, and belief that we so deeply need? If Iran defeats its enemies, will it free us from one real or virtual prison only to place us in another? I do not doubt that the Israeli government is deeply extremist, and arguably the most brutal and criminal in the region's modern history. But it does not behave that way toward its own citizens, and that is the true source of its strength. Intelligence agencies in many of our countries struggle to find even a handful of citizens willing to collaborate as spies. In contrast, Israel receives a steady stream of applications from individuals eager to work with Mossad. Some of them even come from within the intelligence services of Arab states themselves, seeking to become agents, advocates of Israeli narratives, and defenders of its positions. One cannot give what they do not possess. A lack of dignity, humanity, and an educational system shaped by rigid ideology has left many among us feeling little guilt when cooperating with the enemies of our own nations. This war could end at any moment, and most likely, we will learn nothing from it. We will simply return to our old ways of life, unchanged and unaffected. It seems we have become almost entirely immune to any form of meaningful human development. Unfortunately, we have yet to learn this crucial lesson, even from our enemies.
