Iran Denounces U.S.-GCC Joint Statement as Hormuz Tensions Persist

Tehran has formally rejected a joint statement issued by the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regarding maritime security and regional stability. The Iranian Foreign Ministry described the communique as a "provocative interference" in regional affairs, specifically targeting language concerning the Strait of Hormuz. Regional Security Friction In a statement released via state media, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani asserted that the security of regional waterways remains the exclusive responsibility of littoral states. Tehran maintains that the presence of non-regional military forces, specifically the U.S. Fifth Fleet, serves as a primary source of instability in the Gulf. The GCC, comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, has recently intensified defense coordination with Washington to secure trade routes. The diplomatic rift follows high-level meetings between U.S. officials and GCC representatives where maritime threats were a central agenda item. The joint statement expressed concern over Iranian activities that could disrupt the flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, a position Iran continues to…