Riyadh, 18 February 2023 (TDI): Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry released a joint statement on Iran with the U.S. and GCC members. The member countries attended the Second Meeting of the Joint US-GCC Working Group to fight terrorism.
Senior US officials and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) assembled the Working Group on Iran at the GCC’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The Working Group reaffirmed the United States’ long-standing engagement with GCC members. The statement declared that they shared desire to contribute to regional security and stability through the GCC-US Strategic Partnership.
The United States and GCC member nations criticized Iran’s continued disruptive practices, including its support for terrorism and the US of advanced missiles, cyber weapons, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and their proliferation in the region and worldwide.
The statement claimed that Iran and its allies have utilized these weapons to strike populations, essential infrastructure, and international ships.
The United States and GCC member nations expressed grave concerns about the Iranian military’s expanding two-way cooperation with state and non-state actors.
According to the announcement, US-GCC are concerned, particularly with Iran’s continuous US provision of conventional weaponry, and sophisticated missiles. and
They also raised fear of UAS systems supplying the Houthis, prolonging the Yemeni conflict and worsening the humanitarian situation.
The United States and GCC member states agreed that Iran’s continued proliferation of weapons to state and non-state entities poses a severe security danger to the region and the entire globe.
The United States and GCC member states stressed that Iran’s nuclear developments, including the creation of highly enriched uranium (HEU), have no civilian purpose and are escalating regional and global tensions.
They urged Iran to change direction promptly, cease nuclear provocations, and engage in serious negotiation.
They highlighted that Iran should fully assist with IAEA examinations into nuclear material particles detected in undeclared facilities in Iran under Iran’s safeguards obligation.
The US reaffirmed President Biden’s pledge to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The United States and GCC member states agreed to improve defense cooperation and interoperability to limit Iran’s disruptive operations and dissuade future assaults.
They highlighted that diplomacy remained the best option to confront Iran’s disruptive activities and nuclear escalation on a long-term basis.
They stressed that Iran’s leadership should select a better alternative to contribute to a more secure and stable region and benefit the Iranian people.
They asked the international community to enforce all applicable UN Security Council Resolutions prohibiting the export of guns and related equipment and to ensure accountability.
Joint US-GCC Working Group to Combat Terrorism
The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries work together to combat terrorism in the region through the Joint US-GCC Working Group to Fight terrorism.
The GCC is a political and economic coalition of six Middle Eastern nations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The working group was founded in 2017 during President Donald Trump’s first meeting with GCC leaders. Its primary goals are to improve information exchange, border security, and counterterrorism collaboration.
Representatives from the U.S. government and GCC countries meet to share best practices, identify areas of mutual interest and concern. They coordinate efforts to counter terrorist financing, recruitment, and propaganda.
It also tries to increase law enforcement-private sector cooperation to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.
Since its creation, the working group has held multiple meetings and implemented measures to improve regional counterterrorism efforts. It has created coordinated action and capacity-building programs and shared best practices and intelligence.
The Joint US-GCC Working Group to Fight Terrorism strengthens US-GCC cooperation and regional security.
