Jeddah Summit Stresses Importance of Restoring Navigation Security in Hormuz

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Bahrain's King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Bahrain's King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
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Jeddah Summit Stresses Importance of Restoring Navigation Security in Hormuz

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Bahrain's King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Bahrain's King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ahead of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 28, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS

The Gulf summit, which was chaired on Tuesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, discussed the regional situation.

It affirmed the necessity of restoring navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz and strongly condemned the flagrant Iranian aggressions against the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Jordan.

GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi affirmed in a statement that the summit was held at the invitation of the Saudi leadership and discussed ways to find a diplomatic path to end the crisis and pave the way for agreements and understandings that address the concerns of the Gulf states and enhance long-term security and stability.

He clarified that the leaders expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the flagrant Iranian aggressions against the Gulf states and Jordan, emphasizing that these treacherous attacks have led to a sharp loss of confidence by the Gulf states in Iran.

Albudaiwi noted that the leaders praised the ability demonstrated by the Gulf states to deal with the challenges they faced due to this crisis, pointing out that the leaders expressed their categorical rejection of illegal Iranian measures to close the Strait of Hormuz and obstruct navigation in it, affirming the necessity of restoring navigation security and freedom and returning the situation in the Strait to what it was before February 28.

Albudaiwi also highlighted that the leaders of the Gulf states directed the urgency of completing the requirements for achieving access to all joint Gulf projects, including transport and logistics services, along with accelerating the implementation of the GCC railway project.

The Secretary-General of the Council further noted the leaders' affirmation of the importance of promptly taking steps towards establishing an oil and gas pipeline project, a water linkage project between the Gulf states, and moving forward with studying the creation of strategic Gulf reserve areas, in addition to the importance of intensifying military integration among the Council's states and accelerating the completion of the ballistic missile early warning system project.



Kuwait Condemns Iranian Attack on Power, Water Desalination Facility

This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
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Kuwait Condemns Iranian Attack on Power, Water Desalination Facility

This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday an Iranian attack on a power generation ‌and ‌water desalination ‌facility, ⁠calling it a ⁠direct strike on vital civilian infrastructure. 

The repeated targeting of civilian ⁠facilities amounted ‌to a dangerous ‌escalation and ‌violated international ‌law, the UN Charter and UN Security Council ‌Resolution 2817, the ministry said in a ⁠statement. 

It ⁠said Iran bore full legal and moral responsibility for the attack and its consequences. 

The United States launched more airstrikes at Iran on Sunday in response to the killing of US troops, and Iran fired missiles toward the region and Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. 

The US military said the latest strikes targeted Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday's killing of troops in Jordan. 

Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones and missiles.  

Kuwait said Sunday that Iran was targeting it with missile and drone strikes.

The country’s army said in a statement that its air defenses had been activated “following the sinful Iranian aggression.” The attacks came after more than a week of Iran and the United States trading strikes.

Chief of the General Staff said in a statement that Kuwait's “air defenses were intercepting hostile missiles and drones following a criminal Iranian aggression."

It said explosions that could be heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting the incoming attacks.

Authorities voiced calls on all citizens and residents to follow the security instructions issued by the relevant authorities and monitor official guidance. They have not so far reported any casualties or damage resulting from the attacks.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Iran's Continued Aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Iran's Continued Aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday Iran's continued aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reaffirming the Kingdom's full support for the brotherly countries in all measures they take in response to the flagrant Iranian attacks, which violate international law.

The Kingdom also reiterated its utter rejection of Iran's blatant attacks on infrastructure and civilian and vital facilities, including a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait.

The Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to all forms of military escalation, in a manner that preserves the security and stability of the region's countries and their peoples.


Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from Kuwaiti Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Foreign Minister Receives Phone Call from Kuwaiti Counterpart

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Saudi Foreign Minister (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah received a phone call from Kuwait's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

During the call, the two ministers condemned the heinous Iranian attacks targeting Kuwait and several other countries in the region.

They also discussed the latest regional developments and the two countries' efforts to preserve regional security and stability.