GCC Foreign Ministers Meet in Riyadh

Part of the previous ministerial meeting last September in Riyadh (Secretariat of the Cooperation Council)
Part of the previous ministerial meeting last September in Riyadh (Secretariat of the Cooperation Council)
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GCC Foreign Ministers Meet in Riyadh

Part of the previous ministerial meeting last September in Riyadh (Secretariat of the Cooperation Council)
Part of the previous ministerial meeting last September in Riyadh (Secretariat of the Cooperation Council)

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council are scheduled to hold on Wednesday the 154th meeting of the Supreme Council in its 43rd session, at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh.

The meeting will be headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi, Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council with the participation of the GCC Secretary-General Dr. Naif Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf.

Al-Hajraf confirmed that the session comes as a continuation of the preparations currently taking place for the start of the 43rd session of the GCC Supreme Council.

The meeting is set to address the agenda of the Saudi-Chinese Cooperation and Development Summit that will be held on Friday in the presence of leaders of Gulf states and the Chinese president.

The Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development is the first summit between Saudi Arabia and China and comes as a continuation of the historical relations between the GCC countries and China.

The Secretary-General of the Council stressed the importance of Gulf-Chinese relations.

China is considered the first trade partner of the GCC countries with numerous future areas of cooperation, and a mutual will to develop relations in a way that serves common interests and promotes cooperation in the economy, development, trade, and other fields.



Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Interior Minister, Singapore's Coordinating Minister for National Security Discuss Regional Security Development

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received a phone call on Sunday from Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs of the Republic of Singapore K Shanmugam.

During the call, the two officials discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and current security developments amid the Iranian attacks targeting regional security and stability, SPA reported.

They also affirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and coordination in support of regional security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of topics of mutual interest.

Shanmugam expressed his country's condemnation of the Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, affirming Singapore's solidarity with the Kingdom and the GCC states in all measures aimed at enhancing security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Riots Targeting UAE Embassy in Damascus

Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called for the protection of diplomatic missions. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Sunday the riots, assaults, and attempted vandalism that targeted the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the residence of its head of mission in Damascus.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Kingdom also slammed the “unacceptable offenses directed at the national symbols of the brotherly UAE.”

The ministry stressed the Kingdom’s “rejection of these attacks and all forms of violence against diplomats, stressing the need to ensure the protection of diplomats and diplomatic missions in line with relevant international laws and conventions.”

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi also slammed the attack against the UAE embassy in Damascus, urging Syrian authorities to hold those responsible to account.


Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
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Oman, Iran Hold Talks on Strait of Hormuz

Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)
Traffic passing a huge political billboard reading in Persian "The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed", in Enghelb square in Tehran, Iran, 05 April 2026. (EPA)

Oman and Iran held talks on easing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the Omani state news agency reported Sunday, with the key shipping chokepoint effectively closed due to war in the Middle East.

"Oman and Iran held a meeting at the deputy ministers level in the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the attendance of specialists from both sides, during which the possible options were discussed regarding ensuring the smooth passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the news agency posted on X.

"The experts from both sides put forward a number of visions and proposals regarding it," it added.