Former Qatari FM: GCC Countries Must Be Part of Any Negotiations Determining the Future of The Region

Sudanhorizon – Agencies
Former Qatari Foreign Minister Hamad bin Jassim has underlined the the need for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states’ participation in US-Iranian talks to ensure the region’s security and stability.
The Iranian nuclear program, Tehran’s regional influence, and maritime security in strategic straits, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, are at the forefront of any anticipated future discussions. This comes at a time when Gulf capitals are expressing concern about any agreements that might be concluded without considering their vital security and economic interests.
In this context, former Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani emphasized in a post on the “X” platform that the current historical moment demands a unified and clear Gulf stance.
He emphasized that “the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states cannot be absent from any table where the feature of the region is being drawn,” considering that the region’s security “is not a secondary matter, nor a file to be discussed on our behalf, but rather the very essence of our stability and existence.”
He warned against any attempt to treat the Strait of Hormuz as a political tool, explaining: “The issue of the Strait of Hormuz must be placed in its proper context: it is not a bargaining chip, nor a tool of pressure. It is an international waterway that must remain open unconditionally and under any circumstances.” He went even further, demanding that it be “opened before any agreement so that it is not linked to any negotiations or used as a bargaining chip.”

He asserted that “any attempt to impose unilateral control over it, or to turn it into a tool of blackmail, represents a direct threat not only to the GCC states and the region, but to the entire global economy.”
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim addressed the heavy costs borne by the Gulf states as a result of this conflict, saying: “This crisis was imposed on us without consultation, and we have borne its economic and strategic consequences, including disruptions to exports, restrictions on trade, threats to energy security, and instability in the region.”
He stressed that “it is crucial for our countries not to accept being the ones who pay the price for conflicts they did not instigate.”
Bin Jassim demanded that the Gulf states have the right to present their demands, emphasizing that “it is our absolute right, indeed our duty, to present the extent of the direct and indirect losses we have incurred, including the complete or partial disruption of our exports.” He added: “If all parties are going to present their losses at the negotiating table, then it is all the more imperative that the demands of the GCC states be strongly present, and that we demand fair compensation that reflects the extent of the damage we have suffered.”
He concluded his remarks with a clear and firm call, saying: “The next stage cannot tolerate ambiguity, nor can it accept marginalization. The voice of the GCC states must be present with its allies, heard, and influential in everything that is planned for the future of this region. This is not an option… It is a necessity.”

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