This photo taken on June 2, 2025 shows a scene of the 164th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council held in Kuwait City, Kuwait. GCC foreign ministers on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, backed Syrian sovereignty, and addressed regional security concerns, including Iran's nuclear program. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
KUWAIT CITY, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, backed Syrian sovereignty, and addressed regional security concerns, including Iran's nuclear program.
The calls were part of a final communique issued at the close of the 164th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, held in Kuwait City under the chairmanship of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya.
The ministers condemned "attempts to displace the population of the Gaza Strip" and urged the UN Security Council to establish an independent international commission to investigate alleged violations by Israeli forces.
They also endorsed Qatar's mediation efforts, conducted in coordination with Egypt and the United States, to secure a ceasefire and facilitate humanitarian access to civilians in Gaza. The ministers called for an end to "Israeli aggression" and emphasized the need for sustained diplomatic efforts for a lasting solution.
The Council further supported a recent call from the Cairo Arab Summit to deploy international protection forces in Palestinian territories under a UN Security Council mandate.
On Syria, the Council reaffirmed support for the country's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, rejecting foreign interference. The ministers described Syria's stability as "a fundamental pillar of regional security" and condemned ongoing Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.
Turning to Iran, the ministers welcomed renewed U.S.-Iran diplomatic contacts and acknowledged Oman's role in facilitating dialogue. They supported negotiations focused on easing sanctions in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear activities, while stressing Iran's responsibility to restrict uranium enrichment to peaceful levels and maintain full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Riyadh-based GCC, founded on May 25, 1981, is a political and economic alliance comprising six member states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ■
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya speaks at the 164th session of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council held in Kuwait City, Kuwait, June 2, 2025. GCC foreign ministers on Monday called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, backed Syrian sovereignty, and addressed regional security concerns, including Iran's nuclear program. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua)
