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Foreign Ministers of GCC and neighbours issue statement after Riyadh meeting
19 March 2026
halt its attacks on regional states, warning that the future of relations with Tehran depends on its respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
Foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries on Wednesday called on Iran to immediately halt its attacks on regional states, warning that the future of relations with Tehran depends on its respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.
The meeting brought together foreign ministers from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates.
In a joint statement issued after a consultative ministerial meeting in Riyadh, the ministers stressed that continued Iranian actions — both direct and through allied groups — threaten regional security and undermine prospects for diplomacy.
“The future of relations with Iran depends on respecting the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs,” the statement said, in a clear reference to Tehran’s support for proxy groups across the region.
The ministers strongly condemned what they described as deliberate Iranian attacks using ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential buildings, and diplomatic premises across Gulf Cooperation Council countries and beyond.
They said such actions “cannot be justified under any pretext,” and affirmed the right of affected states to defend themselves in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Calling for immediate de-escalation, the ministers urged Iran to adhere to international law, international humanitarian law, and the principles of good neighborliness as a first step toward restoring stability and advancing diplomatic solutions. (Click picture above to read full story)