GCC States Display Public Unity Amid Internal Differences in Response to Iran

Tue, 05 May 2026 01:44:00 +0200

On April 28, 2026, representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) gathered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to present a unified stance against Iran amid ongoing regional conflict. The summit emphasized that an attack on any GCC member would be considered an attack on all, while rejecting Iran’s claims over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this public show of unity, the six-member council – Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman – has long been divided in its strategies and responses toward Iran. The 1979 Iranian Revolution, combined with the Grand Mosque seizure in Saudi Arabia, initially motivated the creation of the GCC as a platform for economic cooperation and shared security. Yet, the member states have consistently pursued differing approaches: Saudi Arabia and the UAE often adopt confrontational stances, while Oman and Qatar prioritize dialogue and mediation. Historical events, including the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the 2003 Iraq War, reinforced both dependence