GCC Calls for Iranian Compensation and Security Guarantees at UN Briefing

The Gulf Cooperation Council called for full Iranian compensation for damage caused by missile and drone attacks, and for security guarantees, at a UN Security Council briefing in New York on November 13. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said any future agreement with Iran must address Gulf concerns about its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, drones and support for armed groups. Albudaiwi said Gulf states had faced attacks involving more than 7,000 Iranian missiles and drones since February 28. He identified airports, ports, oil and gas facilities, power stations, desalination plants and residential areas among the targets. He said the attacks had killed and injured people, damaged civilian infrastructure and harmed the marine environment, and urged Council action to prevent their recurrence. He rejected closing the Strait of Hormuz, obstructing navigation or imposing unlawful transit fees. Bahrain’s UN ambassador, Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, speaking for the GCC, called for implementation of Security Council resolution 2817 and Gulf participation in negotiations on regional security. He welcomed mediation by Oman, Qatar and Pakistan. US ambassador Jennifer Locetta condemned Iran’s attacks on neighboring states and commercial ships, as well as its support for terrorist proxies, and urged accountability. Iran’s ambassador, Gholamhossein Darzi, blamed the United States and Israel for the conflict and demanded an end to US attacks, guarantees against recurrence and sanctions relief. UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said commercial shipping remained below pre-conflict levels despite recovering energy exports. Citing the International Maritime Organization, he put confirmed maritime incidents at 134 and seafarer deaths at 25 as of November 11. Khiari said: “This should not be mistaken for a return to normality.”