US‑Iran tensions spark Gulf states' security alert

UN Secretary‑General António Guterres warned that the resurgence of large‑scale hostilities between the United States and Iran would have "catastrophic consequences for the peoples of the region, for international peace and security and for the global economy." He called on Washington and Tehran to resume negotiations urgently and urged restraint to avoid further escalation.

President Donald Trump told reporters at a NATO summit in Ankara that the cease‑fire "is over" and promised "we will attack them with force tonight" if Iran continues its attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has already conducted airstrikes against Iranian targets after Iranian Revolutionary Guard actions.

Gulf Cooperation Council members – Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain – condemned Iran’s recent attacks on tankers, including a Qatari vessel, and warned that further aggression could jeopardise international navigation and global energy supplies. While expressing concern, the Gulf states stressed the need to keep diplomatic channels open and support ongoing talks between the United States and Iran.