GCC, Jordan flay Iranian attacks; US warns Russia, China over arming Iran

All member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan expressed their unified, joint stance condemning the treacherous aggression launched by Iran and its proxies on their territories, a stance grounded in the successive positions adopted by the GCC Ministerial Council, the Council of Foreign Ministers of the League of Arab States, international law, and United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, US missiles struck targets across Iran on Friday after President Donald Trump vowed "major military punishment" for Tehran and ‌its Houthi allies in Yemen for extending the Middle East war to a second major shipping chokepoint, the mouth of the Red Sea. He told Axios he was considering re-launching major combat against Iran. "They haven't received enough pain yet," the US news outlet quoted him as saying.

Trump warned China and Russia against selling weapons to Iran — while saying he believed assurances from Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin that they were not yet doing so. "Therefore, two major Countries that people speak of often in terms of Iran are, in my opinion, not participating," Trump said on his Truth Social network. "If they did, it would be very bad for them — Certainly not in their best interests."

Earlier, Trump said that any future damages to ships, cargo or related property will be paid using Iranian funds held under US control.

"Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls," Trump said on Truth Social.

"These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do," Trump wrote.

The European Union sanctioned five ‌Iranian judges over alleged human ​rights ⁠violations, as well as a ‌leading figure ‌in a cyber group accused of helping the regime ‌suppress information, the EU Council ⁠said on Friday.

The Council said it had sanctioned Nima Salehi, the Iranian founder of the Ashiyane cyber group, which ​it said cooperates closely with the ‌EU-listed Cyber Police (FATA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The statement ⁠did not specify the names of the sanctioned judges.

The UN on Friday called for the safe evacuation and repatriation of some 6,000 sailors stuck in a "dire humanitarian and human rights crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk called for urgent action to remedy the plight of thousands of seafarers caught up in the Middle East war, his spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said.

Iran will not accept a temporary ceasefire and will continue its current course until its demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz are met, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, Araghchi said Iran would not discuss a temporary truce “unless our demands regarding the Strait of Hormuz are fulfilled,” according to Iranian media.

The Iranian and Omani foreign ministers discussed security developments and maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz that runs between the two countries in a phone call, a statement on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi's Telegram channel said.

The GCC states underline that Iran's attacks on their territories, citizens, and civilian infrastructure have continued uninterrupted since Feb.28, 2026, including following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States of America and Iran on June 17, 2026.

These attacks have escalated particularly against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, encompassing strikes on energy facilities, water desalination plants, ports, airports, and other civilian objects.

The seven states stress that these ongoing attacks constitute explicit acts of aggression violating the UN Charter, international law, international humanitarian law, UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), and the explicit commitments made by Iran under the MoU, posing a threat to international peace and security.

The seven states affirm their inherent right to self-defence, individually or collectively, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and to take all necessary legal measures to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, commercial vessels, and vital infrastructure in the face of these ongoing attacks.

The seven states call upon the UN Security Council to issue an urgent resolution demanding an immediate cessation of Iranian attacks, recognising the affected states' right to self-defence, and to exercise its legal authority to consider taking additional measures if these systematic and treacherous attacks do not cease.

The GCC states reaffirm their commitment to the freedom and safety of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandab, and to maintaining regional security and stability.

WAM / Agencies