Saudi Foreign Minister Al Saud addresses UN on Gulf security

Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud emphasized that the security of the Gulf region is an inseparable component of global security. He highlighted that Saudi Arabia and neighboring nations have faced ‘open Iranian attacks’ targeting security resources, as well as civilian and economic facilities.

Al Saud stressed the link between Gulf stability and global energy security, international trade, and supply chains. He called for freedom of navigation in critical waterways, specifically mentioning the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, rejecting the use of these areas as tools for pressure or threats. He specifically urged for the Strait of Hormuz to return to its status prior to recent escalations, with no fees or restrictions on passage.

To address regional instability, the Foreign Minister advocated for comprehensive and sustainable regional security arrangements. He also called for the Middle East to be free of weapons of mass destruction and for peaceful nuclear programs to be subject to international oversight and assurance mechanisms.