Gulf Cooperation Council furious over Iran remarks

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Abdullatif Al-Zayani has criticised the remarks of Iranian officials following the announcement of the nuclear deal with world powers, alamatonline.net reported.

In a statement, Al-Zayani criticised what he described as a “clear contradiction” between the remarks released by Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani and the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Al-Zayani said that such remarks hint that Iran is to continue interfering in the internal affairs of some Arab countries and that the comments will not lead to building “mutual credible cooperation relations based on harmonious neighbourhood principles.”

Rouhani called for “opening a new page” of mutual relations with Iran’s neighbours, while Khamenei hinted to supporting interference in internal affairs of Arab countries, he claimed.

The head of the GCC went on to that this “contradicts the international conventions and principles which stipulate respect of sovereignty of other states.”

Al-Zayani added: “Such interference is unacceptable.” He also said that the Gulf States would continue defending their interests and work for keeping regional safety and security.