The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) have jointly condemned Iran’s attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Jordan, as well as its assaults on international shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling for an immediate end to what they described as violations of international law.
The joint statement was issued following the High-Level Regional Security Forum in Brussels, co-chaired by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Chairman of the GCC Ministerial Council, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
The GCC and EU said the attacks endangered civilians and seafarers, violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and “cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
The statement expressed full solidarity with the countries affected by the attacks and with sailors of all nationalities whose safety had been threatened, stressing that any threat to security in the Strait of Hormuz has global implications given the waterway’s critical role in international trade and energy supplies.
Reaffirming the principle of freedom of navigation, the two blocs said the right of passage through the Strait of Hormuz is protected under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and applies equally to vessels of all nations.
The statement rejected any unilateral claims of sovereignty or control over the strait, as well as any attempt to impose permits, transit fees or service charges on international shipping. It stressed that no bilateral agreement or arrangement between states can lawfully restrict or regulate the internationally guaranteed right of transit through the waterway.
The GCC and EU called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally halt all attacks and interference with maritime navigation, keep the Strait of Hormuz open without restrictions, and fully comply with international law and Security Council Resolution 2817.
The statement also rejected any unilateral mechanism affecting safe passage through the strait and urged countries to work through international and regional bodies, particularly the International Maritime Organization, to safeguard maritime security.
The two sides pledged continued coordination to protect freedom of navigation, ensure the safety of international shipping and seafarers, and support peace and stability in the region. They also renewed their call for restraint, emphasizing that dialogue and diplomacy remain the only path to resolving the crisis and preserving security in the Strait of Hormuz.
