Gulf Cooperation Council's Strong Condemnation of Iran

The Gulf Cooperation Council, in its final statement from the 136th meeting of foreign ministers held on Tuesday, September 24, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, launched a strong attack on the Islamic Republic, accusing Tehran of attempting to destabilize the member countries of the council. The final statement of the meeting specifically referenced Kuwait's recent announcement regarding the dismantling of a 'terrorist cell' linked to Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. Prior to this statement, Tehran had described its relations with Kuwait as 'strong' and emphasized that it would not allow 'extremists' to undermine this relationship. According to the Saudi state news agency (SPA), the Gulf Cooperation Council's statement referred to 'Kuwait's announcement regarding the dismantling of a cell associated with one of the terrorist groups that was operating to disrupt the security and stability of this country' and expressed dissatisfaction about 'the dangers such actions pose to the security and national sovereignty of Kuwait.' On September 1, the Kuwaiti prosecutor's office charged 24 individuals, including one Iranian, with conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks in the country in connection with Iran and Hezbollah. The Kuwaiti prosecutor's office accused these individuals of 'espionage for the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah with the intent of hostile actions against Kuwait by smuggling explosives into the country and preparing them, as well as weapons and ammunition.' The statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers also 'strongly condemned' Iran's continued interference in the internal affairs of the council's member states, its efforts to create discord and sectarian strife among their citizens, and harm to the security, stability, and interests of these citizens, adding that 'these efforts are carried out through harboring fugitives from justice, establishing camps for training terrorist groups, smuggling weapons and explosives for terrorist operations in the member states, supporting sabotage, terrorism, and inciting unrest, and the positions of senior Iranian officials.' Prior to this statement, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, emphasized Iran and Kuwait's commitment to developing cooperation between the two countries, stating: 'Tehran and Kuwait's relations are solid and constructive.' Mr. Amir-Abdollahian added in an interview with the IRNA news agency on Monday night: 'The Emir of Kuwait and the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran act with the necessary wisdom and prudence in the field of bilateral and regional relations and efforts for stability, development, and sustainable security in the region.' The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister stressed: 'Extremists and enemies of the region will not be allowed to undermine the relations of the countries in the region.' Previously, the Iranian embassy in Kuwait issued a press release on Thursday, September 11, rejecting the Kuwaiti prosecutor's statements regarding the connection of members of an armed detained group with the Islamic Republic. In this context, Iran objected to the accusations raised in the 'arms discovery case in Kuwait,' calling the allegations of involvement in arms smuggling in Kuwait 'baseless.'