Iran Denounces Gulf-US Statement as "Interventionist and Provocative"

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has rejected a statement issued by the US Secretary of State and his counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, describing it as "interventionist, irresponsible, and provocative."

In its statement, the ministry warned against the continuation of what it called hostile and interventionist behaviors in the region. It dismissed claims of a "sustained American commitment to the security of the Gulf states" as mere "empty rhetoric."

The ministry asserted that the US military presence in the region has become "a burden on its peoples and a factor of division and insecurity." It cited the use of US military bases in Gulf states to launch aggression against Iran between February 28 and April 8 of this year.

Iran urged the regional countries whose territories were used in the aggression to "reconsider their positions," reminding them of their obligations under international law and the principle of good neighborliness to prevent any third party from using their lands to attack Tehran.

Tehran denied once again what it called the "big lie" regarding its nuclear program. It proposed that Gulf states join the initiative for a "West Asia region free of nuclear weapons," instead of aligning with the American and Zionist narrative that portrays Iran's nuclear program as a threat.

The ministry emphasized that sustainable peace and security can only be achieved through "building trust and mutual cooperation among the countries of the region, away from American interventions." It condemned the depiction of Iran's defensive capabilities as a threat, calling it "unacceptable and condemnable."

Iran expressed regret over the GCC's solidarity with the United States and Israel in describing the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements as "proxy forces." It affirmed that the struggle of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples against occupation is "a legitimate struggle according to international law."

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran stressed that the strait lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. It stated that the agreement reached in the memorandum of understanding to end the war forms the basis for managing navigation there. Iran called on the Gulf states to "reconsider their approach to regional security," asserting that collective security can only be achieved through the cooperation of all regional countries without external interference.