Al-Badawi to Iran: Stop attacks on the Gulf and restore navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb
Jasem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), affirmed that the convening of the first joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Swiss Confederation represents a significant step toward enhancing political dialogue and consultation between the two sides, and opens broader horizons for developing relations and advancing them to more advanced and effective levels.
He made these remarks during his address at the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Swiss Confederation held yesterday in New York City. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and current Chairman of the GCC Council of Ministers, and Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the GCC member states.
Al-Budaiwi noted that the GCC General Secretariat has prepared a draft joint action plan between the GCC and the Swiss Confederation, outlining mechanisms and proposals for cooperation in political, cultural, developmental, and humanitarian fields, thereby paving the way for a new phase of partnership. He expressed hope for the completion of the necessary procedures to adopt the plan in the coming period, which would contribute to expanding areas of cooperation and strengthening relations between the two sides.
Regarding regional and international developments, the meeting reviewed the ballistic missile and drone attacks carried out by Iran and its proxies against GCC member states since February 28, which targeted critical infrastructure and resulted in human and material losses, despite the fact that the GCC states were not parties to the conflict and had made continuous efforts to mediate and contain the escalation.
Al-Budaiwi emphasized that the disruption of international navigation and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have had repercussions worldwide, leading to rising energy prices, disruptions in supply chains, and increased burdens on governments and business sectors. He affirmed that the security of waterways in the Gulf region is a matter of international, not merely regional, concern.
He underscored the necessity of Iran’s full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, the permanent and unconditional cessation of attacks and ensuring their non-recurrence, and the restoration of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to the levels prevailing before February 28.
