A ministerial meeting held in Manama, Bahrain, on Thursday with officials from the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states welcomed the recent interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at halting hostilities. The gathering underscored the importance of maintaining security in the region, particularly with regard to the Strait of Hormuz, and reiterated opposition to any closure or control of this critical waterway.

The meeting was chaired by Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Bahrain’s foreign minister and current head of the GCC ministerial council. It included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. A joint communiqué issued after the talks recognized the mediation efforts led by Pakistan and Qatar that facilitated the June 17 memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran. The participants stressed the need for continued momentum and unity as negotiations advance toward a permanent resolution to the conflict.

The ministers emphasized their shared goal of preventing Iran from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons and affirmed that any trade and investment with Iran would remain conditional and reversible, dependent on Tehran’s compliance with both the interim MoU and any final agreement. The statement also welcomed steps toward restoring security and state authority in Lebanon, including the establishment of permanent boundaries.

Separately, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi reiterated that any future regional security arrangements must include the GCC states to ensure their stability and security. Analysts observed that this insistence reflects a strategic effort by Gulf countries to secure their interests and influence in upcoming agreements rather than a mere request for inclusion.

In contrast, Iran’s foreign ministry issued a strong condemnation of the US-GCC communiqué, labeling it “interfering, irresponsible and provocative.” Citing a statement reported by Mehr News Agency, Tehran dismissed Washington’s claims of commitment to Gulf security as rhetorical, arguing that the U.S. military presence in the region has instead contributed to insecurity and division. The ministry called on GCC states to reconsider their alignments and to uphold their obligations under international law to prevent foreign powers from using their territories for actions against Iran.

Tehran rejected U.S. and Gulf accusations of Iranian threats and disputed allegations against its nuclear program as politically motivated fabrications. The Iranian foreign ministry urged Gulf countries to join efforts to promote a nuclear-weapons-free West Asia and to press the United States to cease obstructing this initiative.

The developments underscore continuing tensions in the region amid efforts to stabilize relations and address long-standing security concerns involving the United States, Iran, and Gulf states.