Gulf states condemn Iran's 'aggression' and threaten repercussions

Foreign ministers from the six oil-rich Gulf states have agreed to take a united stance against Iran and said they will take 'other measures' if Iran continues its 'aggression'.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab

09 January, 2016

Gulf foreign ministers met in the Saudi capital to discuss the crisis [AFP]

Arab Gulf foreign ministers have voiced their "total support" for Saudi Arabia in its diplomatic war with Iran.

The foreign ministers of the six Gulf Cooperation Council states held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Saturday to discuss the latest developments since Saudi Arabia beheaded a popular Shia cleric on last week.

The killing led to Iran breaking ties with Riyadh and already tense relations ruptured further.

"[The GCC] forcefully condemns the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran", said a statement referring to the assault on Saudi Arabia's embassy and consulate last week.

The six party Gulf block also criticised "Iranian interference in Saudi Arabian affairs" and threatened to "take other measures against Iran if it continues its aggression".

It said Tehran's criticism had "directly incited the aggressions targeting Saudi diplomatic missions".

The GCC "totally supports decisions taken by Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism" and "has total confidence in the independence and integrity of Saudi justice".

Understanding the Saudi-Iran tension

- What's the beef? A brief history of Saudi-Iran relations
- Riyadh denies bombing Iran's 'undamaged' Yemen embassy
- Saudi-Iran diplomatic tension sparks oil price rises
- Iranian-Saudi tensions near boiling point over cleric's execution
- Saudi Arabia executes 47 including top Shia cleric
- Bahrain breaks up anti-Saudi protests
- World powers call for calm amid Saudi-Iran crisis
- Saudi execution toll highest in two decades
- Thousands demand release of Saudi death row Shias
- Comment: Death sentence for Shia cleric 'will spark unrest'
- Saudi court upholds death sentence for Shia cleric
- Comment: Human rights are out of fashion
- Cameron defends 'squalid' deal with Saudi Arabia
- Hackers target Saudi Arabia over planned execution of youth

Nimr was a highly respected cleric in Saudi Arabia's Shia community and led demonstrations calling for better treatment of the minority.

He was executed for "terrorism" although Iran and human rights groups have said the motive was political.

The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain both severed ties with Iran, Qatar and Kuwait recalled its ambassador, the UAE downgraded its ties, while Oman - which has the closest ties to Iran in the GCC - condemned the attacks.