Iran slams US-GCC joint statement as ‘provocative’

Iran on Friday condemned a joint statement issued by the US secretary of state and Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers, describing it as “interventionist, irresponsible and provocative.” The Iranian Foreign Ministry criticised positions outlined in the joint communique issued after the GCC‑US ministerial meeting in Bahrain on June 25 and warned against continued hostile and interventionist behaviour in the region.

US presence and regional security

Tehran dismissed Washington’s stated “enduring commitment” to GCC security as “mere rhetoric,” arguing that the US military presence has become a source of insecurity and division. The ministry said the recent use of military bases in regional countries during US and Israeli strikes on Iran demonstrated that Washington did not value the security of its partners. It urged regional states to reconsider their positions, saying they have obligations under international law to prevent third parties from using their territory to carry out hostile acts against Iran.

Nuclear programme and Strait of Hormuz

Iran rejected accusations regarding its peaceful nuclear programme, calling them fabricated by the US and Israel, and urged GCC states to cooperate on establishing a nuclear weapons‑free zone in West Asia. On the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran said security disruptions were the direct result of US and Israeli actions and accused some regional states of complicity. Iran reiterated that the strait lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and that shipping management would be governed by Article 5 of the recently signed memorandum. For Türkiye, which maintains relations with both Iran and the GCC, the escalating rhetoric is concerning. Ankara has urged all parties to avoid inflammatory statements and focus on implementing the Islamabad Memorandum.