GCC chief urges UN to halt Iranian attacks, protect Gulf waterways

Jassim al-Budaiwi calls on UN-security-council" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1865" data-entity-type="organization">UN Security Council to guarantee ‘uninterrupted navigation through all strategic waterways’.The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has called on the United Nations to act to immediately halt Iranian attacks across the region, condemning the strikes as a “flagrant violation” of international law and the United Nations Charter.Speaking at the UN-security-council" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1865" data-entity-type="organization">UN Security Council (UNSC) on Thursday, GCC Secretary-General Jassim al-Budaiwi urged the council to “take all necessary measures” to bring an end to Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3UK-led coalition of 40 countries vows action on Hormuz Strait closurelist 2 of 3Video: GCC chief says Iran charging for ships to pass Strait of Hormuzlist 3 of 3War on Iran: Washington’s history of making other nations pay for conflictsend of listThe UNSC must “take all necessary means” to “protect maritime corridors and guarantee the uninterrupted maritime navigation through all strategic waterways” in the region, al-Budaiwi said.He also stressed that the six GCC states – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates – must be included in any talks or deals with Iran “to enhance regional security and prevent further escalation or the repetition of such attacks in the future”.“The GCC reaffirms the urgent need to immediately halt these attacks; restore security, stability and calm in the region, and ensure the safety of air and maritime navigation, the safety of international supply chains, and the protection of global energy markets,” al-Budaiwi said.Iran has carried out daily missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, including in Arab Gulf nations, since the United States and Israel launched a war against the country on February 28.While Iranian officials have said they are acting in self-defence and striking US and Israeli-linked targets, the attacks have struck civilian sites across the Gulf, including several of the region’s critical energy facilities.