Assistant Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdulaziz bin Hamad Al-Owaisheq stressed that “the Iranian show of force in the waters of the Arabian Gulf” underscored the need to complete the formation of an alliance to protect navigation security.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Owaisheq highlighted the importance of the political process set by the United States with its allies, represented by comprehensive negotiations covering all issues in the region.
“Tehran continues to officially reject these negotiations, but there is a debate within Iran about the need to negotiate instead of maintaining the policy of confrontation, violence and piracy that the country has adopted in response to the US sanctions,” he noted.
He said that the announcement by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard two days ago about the interception of an oil tanker was a “show of force”.
“The interception of this ship is of little practical significance, because it carries a limited amount of oil derivatives (about 4,500 barrels). Iran claims that it was smuggling oil, but it is known that the smuggling of oil and its derivatives during the sanctions period is normal in Iran and is conducted with the protection of the Revolutionary Guards as a means to circumvent the sanctions,” the GCC official explained.
“Whatever the reasons for intercepting this ship, the event underscores the need to complete the formation of forces, which would be led by the United States, as well as the international and Gulf arrangements that existed prior to these events with US and British forces operating in the region,” Al-Owaisheq emphasized.
