Gulf states ask Russia to press Iran and support dialogue
Gulf Cooperation Council states asked Russia to press Iran to halt attacks and enter dialogue at ministerial talks in Manama on October 18. The council also raised navigation through Hormuz and respect for sovereignty. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov backed diplomatic efforts and said Gulf states should have the decisive voice in regional security arrangements. No Iranian acceptance or binding agreement was announced.
Geopolitics··Midday
Gulf ministers seek Moscow’s diplomatic support
The Gulf Cooperation Council urged Russia at the October 18 meeting in Manama to press Iran to halt attacks and enter dialogue.[1], [2]
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states asked Russia to play an active role in pressing Iran during ministerial talks in Manama on October 18. Their request called for Iran to halt attacks on regional countries, comply with United Nations Security Council resolutions and enter dialogue with its Gulf neighbours. References to Iranian attacks express the council’s position; the meeting itself did not independently establish those allegations. The appeal was made at the ninth joint ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Russia. Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani chaired the gathering in the Bahraini capital. The council sought Russian support for its demands through that diplomatic forum.[1]
Hormuz and sovereignty frame the proposed dialogue
The council also urged Iran to respect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Good neighbourliness, respect for sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs were the principles it set out for discussions. Its request combined a call for pressure on Iran with a call for talks, rather than announcing that such talks had ended in a settlement. Bahrain’s foreign minister welcomed Russian appeals for de-escalation and described the security of GCC countries as a pillar of international security. The announcements did not include Iranian acceptance of the council’s demands. The announcements did not establish a newly concluded binding security agreement. The positions remained diplomatic requests and statements at the ministerial gathering.[1]
Lavrov backs diplomacy and a regional voice
Sergey Lavrov supported diplomatic efforts to prevent escalation at the Russia–Gulf ministerial meeting in Manama on October 18.[1], [3]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov supported diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation during the Manama meeting. He said Moscow backed Arab countries’ peace efforts to keep the Middle East from sliding into a major war. Lavrov also stressed that Gulf states should have the decisive voice in determining security arrangements for their region. He described deeper contacts with GCC countries as a continuing Russian foreign policy priority. These remarks addressed the role of regional states and diplomacy in efforts to lower tensions. They did not announce a Russian guarantee that Iran would meet the council’s requests, or an agreement accepted by Iran. The meeting left those requests as matters for further diplomacy.[1]
