Gulf Cooperation Council: Iran Must Stop Interfering in Regional States’ Internal Affairs

Nayef Al-Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called on Iran on Thursday, July 29th, to cease its interference in the internal affairs of regional countries and halt its support for “terrorism.”

Nayef Al-Hajraf also described strategic cooperation between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council as instrumental in strengthening regional security and stability.

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council stated: “In order to improve security and stability in the region and support an end to conflicts in the area, I call on Iran to stop its destabilizing activities in the region, cease interfering in the internal affairs of regional countries, and stop supporting terrorist groups in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon.”

Saudi Arabia and the United States have repeatedly accused Iran of supplying weapons to Houthi rebels and have stressed that the Houthis’ ballistic missiles are Iranian-made. However, Iran denies these accusations.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in proxy warfare and intense political rivalries at various points in the Middle East, including in Syria and Yemen. Meanwhile, the two countries support different groups, parties, and political figures in Lebanon and Iraq.

JCPOA Negotiations

Nayef Al-Hajraf also called for the inclusion of regional issues and the missile program in the negotiations to revive the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council stated that Iran’s support for non-state armed groups in regional countries should be included in Vienna negotiations, and these talks should not be limited to reviving the agreement.

Iran and the United States have conducted six rounds of indirect negotiations, mediated by parties involved in the JCPOA, in Vienna with the aim of returning Tehran to its nuclear commitments and the lifting of US sanctions to revive the JCPOA. However, differences between the two sides remain.

While Nayef Al-Hajraf called for the inclusion of Iran’s regional activities in Vienna negotiations, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s representative to international organizations in Vienna, said the day before that the Americans “linked the entire agreement to acceptance of a clause on holding future talks on regional issues, which is completely unrelated to and detrimental to the subject of the negotiations.”

Iran had previously also opposed the inclusion of regional issues and the missile program in the negotiations to revive the JCPOA.

Source: Radio Farda