Foreign ministers from Qatar, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates convened a consultative meeting in Riyadh on March 18, 2026, to address escalating tensions linked to Iranian attacks in the region.
The ministers strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as deliberate strikes carried out with ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilian areas and critical infrastructure, including oil facilities, airports, desalination plants, residential buildings and diplomatic sites. They stated that such actions cannot be justified under any circumstances.
They reaffirmed the right of affected countries to defend themselves in line with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, while calling on Iran to immediately halt all attacks and de-escalate tensions.
The meeting emphasized the importance of respecting international law, humanitarian principles and good neighbourly relations as essential steps toward restoring regional stability and promoting diplomatic solutions to the crisis.
The ministers warned that future relations with Iran would depend on its respect for the sovereignty of other nations, non-interference in internal affairs and a commitment to avoid actions that threaten regional security.
They also urged Iran to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to support for armed groups in Arab countries.
In addition, the ministers cautioned against any attempts to disrupt international shipping routes, stressing the need to maintain security in key waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab.
