The Gulf Cooperation Council reveals the extent of Iranian threats
In a statement highlighting the security challenges in the Middle East, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) revealed that more than 85% of the attacks and threats launched by Iran directly targeted Gulf states. This announcement underscores the magnitude of the risks faced by countries in the region over the past years, whether through cyberattacks or armed militias supported by Tehran, posing unprecedented challenges to regional and international security that require concerted international efforts to address them.
General context and nature of the attacks
The attacks highlighted in the report span a range of security and military dimensions. Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have suffered repeated attacks using drones and ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia in Yemen, a group that receives arms and logistical support from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Furthermore, Gulf security agencies have observed a significant increase in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, the oil sector, and government institutions, attacks attributed to hacking groups linked to Tehran.
Historical background of Gulf-Iranian tensions
The roots of security tensions between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Iran stretch back decades, specifically to 1979. The establishment of the GCC in 1981 was a strategic step to unify the political, security, and economic efforts of the six Gulf states in the face of growing regional challenges. Over the years, the Gulf states and the international community have accused Iran of pursuing a policy of interference in the internal affairs of Arab states and supporting armed militias in countries such as Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, thereby destabilizing the region and creating persistent hotspots that hinder development and peace efforts.
Regional and international impact and energy security
The repercussions of these attacks are not limited to the local level of the Gulf states, but extend to the entire global economy. The Arabian Gulf region is the main artery of global energy supplies, and any threat to the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman, or any targeting of oil facilities (as happened in the Abqaiq and Khurais attacks in 2019), immediately impacts global oil prices and market stability. For this reason, international powers, including the United States and European countries, have moved quickly to form maritime coalitions to ensure freedom of navigation and protect commercial vessels from potential Iranian threats.
Diplomatic efforts and the unified Gulf position
Despite these threats and alarming statistics, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have consistently demonstrated their readiness for diplomatic solutions that guarantee good neighborly relations and non-interference in internal affairs. The 2013 Saudi-Iranian agreement, brokered by China, to resume diplomatic relations was a significant step toward de-escalation. However, the Gulf states consistently emphasize that any international negotiations with Iran must comprehensively address its ballistic missile program and its destabilizing regional behavior, not just its nuclear program. The Gulf position remains unified and resolute in defending its sovereignty and national achievements against any external threats.
