In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Ministry rejected Washington’s claim of a sustained commitment to the security of PGCC member countries, describing it as mere rhetoric and a distortion of reality. The US military presence in the region has become a burden on the people of the region and a source of insecurity and division, the ministry stressed.
It further noted that the use of US bases and military facilities in regional countries to conduct acts of aggression against Iran from February 28 to April 8, 2026, demonstrated that Washington places no value on regional security or bilateral relations.
The Foreign Ministry also urged regional countries that had their territory and facilities used during the recent imposed war by US-Israeli aggressors to reconsider their positions, reiterating the clear obligation of PGCC members under international law and the principle of good neighborliness to prevent any third party from using their territory or facilities for unlawful actions, including military aggression against Iran.
The ministry expressed its “disgust” at the repetition of a big lie fabricated by the genocidal Israeli regime and the United States regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, calling on PGCC member countries to steer clear of aligning with Washington’s “threat narrative” and instead join Iran in advancing the initiative for a West Asia free of nuclear weapons, while compelling the US to stop obstructing it.
The statement emphasized that lasting peace and security in the region can only be achieved through trust-building and mutual cooperation among regional countries, free from destructive foreign interference. It rejected the labeling of “threats emanating from Iran” as a politically motivated narrative crafted by the Israeli regime and the United States to promote an “Iranophobia agenda” among regional governments.
Additionally, the statement strongly condemned attempts to portray Iran’s defensive capabilities as a threat and criticized Washington’s “divide and rule” policy, which has led regional countries into a dangerous and endless arms race.
Iran reaffirmed its position by stating that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate any compromise in defending its sovereignty and related capabilities, the ministry said, expressing regret over the PGCC’s alignment with the United States and Israeli regime in labeling the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements as “Iranian proxies.” It emphasized that the only proxy entity in the region is the Zionist regime. Furthermore, it asserted that the struggles of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples against occupation and apartheid are legitimate and fully in accordance with international law.
The statement reminded regional countries of the direct responsibility of both the US and the Israeli regime, as well as those regional countries that supported the recent US-Israeli aggression, in contributing to the insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that the Strait lies within the territorial waters of Iran and Oman. Additionally, it noted that the arrangements outlined in paragraph 5 of the memorandum ending the imposed war serve as the operational basis for navigation management in the area.
In conclusion, the Foreign Ministry urged the member countries of the PGCC to reconsider their security strategies in light of the recent imposed war affecting the region, reiterating that true collective security can only be achieved through cooperation among regional countries, without foreign intervention.
