Manama: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi praised the high level of coordination among the GCC states in addressing the repercussions of the Iranian aggressions through holding more than 150 extraordinary meetings across all ministerial and technical levels. He indicated that these sessions aimed to ensure continuous communication, information sharing, and the facilitation of procedures, alongside enhancing the resilience of supply chains and the flow of goods, as well as intensifying diplomatic actions with nations and international and regional blocs, which reflected the unity of the Gulf position, the firm stance, and the unwavering resolve to safeguard the security and stability of our states, and to continue the constructive march toward achieving Gulf integration. According to Saudi Press Agency, these remarks came during his speech at the 167th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council, in Manama, Bahrain, chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and in the presence of the foreign ministers of the GCC member states. 'Since the beginning of February 28, 2026, until this day, the GCC states have been subjected to sinful Iranian attacks with ballistic missiles and drones, targeting infrastructure and vital civilian facilities, the latest of which were the terrorist Iranian attacks that targeted the Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Kuwait today, in a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Council states and the principles of good neighborliness, and a grave breach of international law, international humanitarian law, and the Charter of the United Nations,' he stated. He also expressed his thanks and appreciation for the pivotal role of the ministerial and technical committees and working teams, which took immediate action and ensured effective coordination to address the repercussions of these attacks. Moreover, Albudaiwi commended the efficiency a nd readiness of the armed forces of the GCC states, which professionally and capably intercepted more than 7,000 ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran toward the GCC states, contributing to neutralizing the threat and protecting lives, facilities and vital assets. 'Despite the gravity of these attacks, the GCC states chose restraint and wisdom, out of keenness to avoid sliding into cycles of escalation with unforeseeable consequences,' he explained. He called on Iran to stop all attacks against the GCC states, respect their sovereignty, refrain from interfering in their internal affairs, comply with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, cease destabilizing activities, and support de-escalation efforts and tracks. 'As a continuation of this destabilizing conduct, the region witnessed another dangerous escalation represented by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of navigation through it, in a clear denial of states' right of passage and navigation, guaranteed und er international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982,' he pointed out during his speech. He also pointed to the importance of the security of the GCC states for the stability of energy, supply chains, and the global economy, calling for the immediate reopening of the Strait and the restoration of normal navigation, while affirming the importance of returning to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to overcome the current crisis. Meanwhile, Albudaiwi referred in his speech to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 of 2026, which strongly condemned the Iranian attacks against the GCC states and affirmed their inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. He indicated that, prior to these attacks, the GCC states had exerted strenuous efforts to facilitate dialogue between the United States and Iran through high-level communications and mediation efforts led by the Sultanate of Oman. 'However, all of this did not prevent Iran and it s proxies in the region from launching their attacks against the GCC states,' he added. Besides, he underscored the full solidarity of the peoples of the GCC states and their united stand in confronting these attacks, stressing that the security of the GCC states is indivisible, and that any attack against any member state is a direct attack against all GCC states, in accordance with the Joint Defence Agreement. 'The GCC states reserve their legal right to respond, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, which guarantees the right of individual and collective self-defense,' he emphasized. 'Within the framework of following up on the outcomes of the 19th Consultative Meeting of the leaders of the GCC states, held in Jeddah on April 28, 2026, work is continuing to implement the directives of the leaders. A higher committee comprising senior officials from the General Secretariat has been formed to translate these directives into implementable plans and programs, and detailed report s on its outcomes will be submitted to the next session of the Supreme Council,' he highlighted. In conclusion, he explained that the agenda of the 167th meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council includes a number of topics across various fields, as well as a report on the progress of negotiations for free trade agreements. He congratulated the foreign ministers of the GCC states on the signing of the Joint Statement concluding the negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the United Kingdom (UK), and extended his thanks and appreciation to the members of the working teams from the GCC states and the General Secretariat, who contributed significantly and valuably to the completion of this achievement, which adds to the GCC's gains.