Regional coalition condemns Iranian strikes on civilian infrastructure and warns of further escalation if attacks continue.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Saudi Arabia convened a ministerial-level meeting in Riyadh with foreign ministers from across the Arab world and neighboring countries, resulting in a unified condemnation of Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks on civilian targets throughout the region.
Participants included representatives from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Pakistan, Turkey, Qatar, Syria, Azerbaijan and Lebanon. Following the meeting, the Saudi government released a joint statement, as published by the Saudi Press Agency, denouncing Iran’s actions and calling for an immediate halt to the strikes.
The statement said participating nations “affirmed their condemnation and denunciation of these Iranian deliberate attacks with ballistic missiles and drones which targeted residential areas, civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, airports, residential buildings, and diplomatic premises.”
The countries warned that such actions could not be justified and urged Iran to comply with international law, including respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of neighboring states. The statement also cautioned Tehran against disrupting commercial traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
The regional response follows weeks of escalating conflict after the launch of Operation Epic Fury on February 28, when President Donald Trump announced military action aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to threaten neighboring countries. Since then, Iranian forces have carried out strikes across multiple countries in the region, including attacks on civilian areas in several of the nations represented at the Riyadh meeting.
Iran has also targeted Israel and Cyprus, while Iranian officials have denied responsibility for certain strikes, including alleged attacks on Azerbaijan and Turkey. However, Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have reported direct strikes attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan warned that relations with Iran have deteriorated sharply. In remarks cited by The National News, he said, “What little trust there was before has completely been shattered.”
He added that rebuilding relations would take significant time and warned that continued attacks could eliminate any remaining possibility of restoring trust. “If Iran doesn’t stop… immediately, I think there will be almost nothing that can re-establish that trust,” he said.
Prince Faisal also stated that Saudi Arabia reserves the right to take military action if necessary to defend its territory.
Separately, Qatar announced it would expel Iranian diplomats and close the Iranian embassy in Doha following an attack on the Ras Laffan Industrial City, a major liquefied natural gas facility. Reports described extensive damage at the site.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said the decision was a response to repeated Iranian targeting and described the strikes as violations of sovereignty and international law. Officials indicated further measures could follow if attacks continue.
The joint statement from Riyadh also noted concerns about broader regional instability, including the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, while emphasizing the need for Iran to cease military actions and respect international norms.
The coordinated response from multiple governments marks one of the most unified regional positions against Iran in recent years, as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.
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