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Yemenis, Int’l Parties Welcome GCC Initiative for Intra-Yemeni Talks

Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
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Yemenis, Int’l Parties Welcome GCC Initiative for Intra-Yemeni Talks

Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)
Students after completing final school exams in Sanaa on Saturday. (EPA)

The Gulf Cooperation Council’s invitation for holding intra-Yemeni consultations was welcomed by international and Yemeni parties. In an official statement, the Yemeni presidency urged everyone to participate actively and positively.

Yemenis are looking forward to the consultations leading to results that will turn the page of the conflict and help chart a clear path to peace.

The Yemeni presidency welcomed on Friday the GCC’s announcement that it will host Yemeni consultations at the headquarters of the General Secretariat in Riyadh, from March 29 to April 7.

It praised in a statement the GCC and Saudi-led Arab coalition’s sincere efforts to restore security and stability and achieve peace in Yemen, based on the Gulf initiative, its executive mechanism, outcomes of the national dialogue and relevant UN resolutions, mainly resolution 2216.

The presidency called on all Yemeni components to participate effectively and positively in the upcoming talks and join efforts to resolve the crises, end the suffering of Yemenis and start building the future of the next generations.

The United Nations also welcomed the initiative.

“I can tell you that the UN appreciates all initiatives to reach an inclusive negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen,” said Spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric.

“In that context, we welcome the Gulf Cooperation Council’s initiative to hold consultations among the parties to the conflict in Yemen in the coming weeks in support of the UN’s own efforts,” he added.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also welcomed the initiative announced by the GCC, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The OIC’s General Secretariat had called for supporting a political solution to the Yemeni crisis and encouraged dialogue between all Yemeni parties and the implementation of the Riyadh Agreement, and appreciated all efforts, especially efforts of UN and Saudi Arabia for a ceasefire and advancing the political process.

OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha praised the GCC initiative, which would bridge the rift between Yemeni brothers.

He called on all Yemeni parties to engage in this very important initiative to stop the bleeding of Yemeni blood and reach a political solution to end the conflict and advance the interests of the Yemeni people and in support of security and stability in the region.

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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is maintaining regular and active communication with all international parties involved in the ongoing conflict, as part of broader diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat Wednesday.

Albudaiwi said the GCC views the military escalation between Iran and Israel as a “grave threat” to the security and stability of the Gulf region. He added that the Council, through its official channels, continues to emphasize that “dialogue and restraint” remain the most effective path to safeguarding regional security and stability.

As military confrontations between Israel and Iran entered their sixth day on Wednesday, Albudaiwi warned that the situation was “unprecedented and deeply concerning”.

Albudaiwi also noted that the GCC’s 48th extraordinary ministerial meeting on Monday concluded that the rapidly unfolding events could spiral into a wider regional conflict.

He added that the Council is ramping up diplomatic pressure, calling on all international actors -- including the UN Security Council -- to intervene and prevent further escalation.

Albudaiwi also pointed to the unified Gulf statement issued after the emergency meeting, alongside individual condemnations by all six GCC member states. The declarations denounced Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for immediate de-escalation and restraint.

The Secretary-General underscored the bloc’s ongoing diplomatic push, noting that Gulf states have urged the United States to pressure Israel into accepting an immediate ceasefire.

The GCC is also advocating for the revival of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, as part of a coordinated Gulf and international initiative to contain the crisis.

The GCC is holding regular talks with the United Nations, the United States, and allied nations as part of its diplomatic campaign to defuse tensions between Iran and Israel, Albudaiwi confirmed.

“These are the main formal channels for dialogue,” Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the Council has sent unified diplomatic messages rejecting the ongoing escalation and urging restraint.

The communications also included calls to revive peace efforts in the region.

He explained that the GCC’s diplomatic engagement spans official correspondence, closed-door talks, and meetings held within international frameworks, all aimed at restoring regional stability and absorbing tensions without resorting to military options.

“Through this approach, GCC states are pursuing a comprehensive and balanced diplomatic strategy that hinges on communication and coordination with major international powers and global organizations,” Albudaiwi said.

“The objective is clear: to contain the crisis and prevent it from erupting into a broader regional confrontation,” he affirmed.

Albudaiwi mentioned that the GCC has reached “advanced levels” of coordination among member states to confront disasters and emergencies, including non-conventional threats such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gulf states are actively engaged in joint preparedness efforts through early warning and detection networks, enabling rapid and coordinated responses to potential crises.

In light of growing concerns over potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC states are equipped with sophisticated radiation and environmental monitoring systems.

These systems allow for the real-time exchange of data via secure channels among relevant national authorities to detect any abnormal indicators at an early stage.

He said this capability is supported by the GCC Emergency Management Center, which plays a key role in coordinating simulation exercises and joint drills focused on unconventional weapons scenarios. These efforts span civilian, security, and defense sectors and aim to boost collective readiness, update national emergency plans, and improve response coordination.

The drills, Albudaiwi noted, are conducted in line with global best practices and are backed by intergovernmental agreements involving defense, interior, and health ministries, all designed to reinforce the Gulf’s collective security framework in the face of emerging threats.