The possibility of the conflict spreading to nearby regions in the Middle East has increased if the US joins Israel in attacks against Iran, as many of these oil-rich nations host US military bases. Simultaneously, about 21 Muslim countries, including the Gulf states, have condemned the Israeli strikes on Iran that began in the early hours of June 13.
Saudi Arabia has been in touch with the US and Iran since “day one” of the conflict, Ali Shihabi, a close analyst to the Saudi royal court, told AFP. “But it does not look promising that something will happen very soon,” he added.Read more: Israel Iran War Live Updates
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan also spoke to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian in the recent days. The UAE President discussed the conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin through a telephonic conversation, who offered to mediate in the conflict, as per AP.
Oman, where US and Iran were going to have a meeting on Iran’s nuclear programme on June 15, which were later cancelled due to the Israeli strikes, have also been calling for restraint, along with Qatar, who have played a pivotal role in mediating in the region, including between US and Taliban.
Here is how the Arab and Muslim are reacting to the conflict
Oman hold Israel responsible
“Oman considers this act a dangerous, reckless escalation, representing a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law. Such aggressive, persistent behaviour is unacceptable and further destabilises the regional peace and security,” its foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The Sultanate of Oman holds Israel responsible for this escalation and its consequences, and calls upon the international community to adopt a firm and unequivocal stance to halt this dangerous course of action.”
Saudi Arabia says Israeli strikes “clear violation”
Saudi Arabia condemned the Israeli attacks, calling the strikes “blatant” and “a clear violation of international laws and norms”.
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“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” read a statement.
21 Muslim nations condemn attacks
Earlier on June 16, 21 Arab and Muslim countries issued a joint statement condemning the Israeli strikes and calling for de-escalation and respecting the international law, as per Egypt’s official news agency MENA, reported Turkey’s Anadolu Agency.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty took the initiative to consult his counterparts across the region, which included Türkiye, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Chad, Gambia, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, Egypt and Mauritania.
The Arab states’ Gulf council call for immediate end
On June 16 itself, the Ministerial Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) held its 48th extraordinary meeting through video conferencing on the developing Iran-Israel war.
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The meeting was chaired by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Yahya, who is the chairperson of the current session of the ministerial council, and was attended by ministers of UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar.
The Council condemned Israel’s attack on Iran which “undermine its sovereignty and security” and is a “clear violation of international law and United Nations Charter. The council called for UN Security Council and international committee to bringing an “immediate end” to the war to prevent escalation” while also calling for continuation of the talks between Iran and US in Oman.
