Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, Egypt, Jordan and the US agreed during a meeting held in New York Friday to counter Iran’s threats and terrorist groups in the region.
The meeting was held at the Palace hotel in New York, near the ongoing United Nations General Assembly meetings. It was attended by a host of top-level officials and in the presence of Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir and Saudi Ambassador to the US, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an end to Iran’s “malign” activity in the region and said all states have a common interest in a wide number of security-related issues.
Commenting on the meeting, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Neuert said it discussed the establishment of a "Middle East strategic alliance” to promote security and stability in the region.
Neuert said the meeting also focused on the importance of defeating ISIS and other terrorist groups, bringing peace and stability to Syria and Yemen, ensuring a thriving and inclusive Iraq, and stopping Iran’s malign activity in the region.
“All participants agreed on the need to confront threats from Iran directed at the region and the United States,” she said.
A State Department statement said the ministers had “productive discussions” on setting up what is to be known as the “Middle East Strategic Alliance” to promote security and stability in the region.
AP reported that the Trump administration is pressing ahead with plans to create an “Arab NATO” that would unite US partners in the Middle East in an anti-Iran alliance.
Meanwhile, acting commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard General Hossein Salami launched threats against states in the region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
"If you cross our red lines, we will surely cross yours. You know the storm the Iranian nation can create," the Fars news agency quoted Salami as saying.
