Iranian authorities denounced this Friday that the joint statement by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), critical of Tehran, constitutes an "interference" in the country's internal affairs and once again shows "hostile and interventionist" stances in the Middle East.
In an official note, Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that the joint statement "constitutes an interference in internal affairs" and emphasized that the comments "are irresponsible and provocative," thus "warning about the continuation of hostile and interventionist behaviors in the region."
Tehran insisted that Washington's supposed commitment to regional security "is nothing more than empty rhetoric and a misrepresentation of reality." "Today it is more evident than ever that the US military presence in the countries of the region is nothing but a burden for their peoples and a factor of insecurity and regional division," it stated, remarking that the use of military bases and facilities in the Gulf "clearly demonstrated that Washington does not attach any value to the security of the countries of the region or to relations between them."
In this context, the Iranian government urged neighboring countries to "reconsider their positions." "The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates the clear obligation of GCC member states, in accordance with International Law and the principle of good neighborliness, to prevent third parties from using their territory and facilities to plan, organize, support, or execute illicit acts, including military aggression against Iran," it emphasized.
After a meeting held in Bahrain, Rubio reaffirmed in a joint statement the United States' "enduring commitment" to the "security" of GCC countries. The document states that "lasting" regional peace and security require "addressing the full range of threats posed by Iran, including its ballistic missiles, drones, and support for allied forces or proxy groups in the region."
The text also highlighted the importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz and called for "free, unconditional, and unrestricted" transit, emphasizing that this maritime route "remains essential for regional and global security." In this way, Washington and the Gulf States rejected "any tolls, fees, or attempts to exercise control over the strait."