A joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, highlighted negotiations with Iran and navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz as key agenda items.
The meeting was co-chaired by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the current GCC president. A series of bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed developments in the US-Iran agreement and progress in the negotiations with Rubio. The two ministers underscored the importance of ensuring "unrestricted" international navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Faisal bin Farhan also met with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to review regional developments and the implications of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding for regional security and stability.
In a meeting with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, the Saudi minister discussed the US-Iran agreement and ways to support diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Al Zayani, in his meeting with Rubio, reviewed the regional situation following the memorandum signed between Washington and Tehran and its effects on security and stability. The meeting also addressed the strategic partnership between the two countries and enhancing cooperation, including the "Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement."
Following the war initiated by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026, Tehran's retaliatory attacks caused civilian casualties in some Arab countries. Negotiations that began on June 21, 2026, aim for an agreement to end the conflict.
The final statement of the meeting called for maintaining the momentum of negotiations to reach a final agreement that prevents Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The statement also rejected any restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation under international law is fundamental to regional and global security.
The ministers welcomed the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran on June 18, 2026, which was mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. The agreement provides for a cessation of hostilities, the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iran, and the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz for global energy shipments. The closure of the strait had led to an increase in oil and natural gas prices and inflation.
Meanwhile, Oman announced on Wednesday the allocation of a temporary corridor for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It was also reported that a plan has been implemented for the evacuation of more than 11,000 seafarers stranded in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and 20 percent of the world's oil exports pass through it. Iran and Oman are the riparian states of the strait.
