Manama: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have rejected Iran’s interference in their domestic affairs and its attempts to stir divisions and sectarianism and to undermine their security, stability and public interests.

In a statement issued at the end of their meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh, the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE said yesterday that Iran’s interference was through harbouring fugitives, setting up camps to train terrorists or smuggling weapons and explosives to carry out terror acts.

Iran also resorted to supporting acts of sabotage and terror and to incitement to violence through statements issued by senior Iranian officials, the foreign ministers said.

The statement added that Iran’s policy based on interfering in the affairs of the GCC was a serious threat to regional and international security and peace, charging that Tehran has reached unprecedented levels in breaking norms and standards in relations between countries.

Such a policy warns that a dangerous sectarian war would break out and that it would be impossible to control.

Iran should immediately cease its negative practices and commit itself fully to the principles of good neighbourliness and to international norms and covenants in order to preserve security and stability in the region, the GCC said.

“The Ministerial Council stressed the importance of the principles and essential foundations based on good neighbourliness, the respect of the sovereignty of the states, the non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, and the threat to use, force,” the statement said. “The GCC also rejects the statements by some officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran against the GCC states and their interference in their domestic affairs.”

According to Saudi daily Sharq Al Awsat, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa said that the GCC countries were currently in an open confrontation with Iran.

Shaikh Khalid reportedly said Iran was behind attempts to smuggle explosives into the Gulf that were enough to wipe out entire cities. He added that the GCC countries had to deal with Iran’s agents in Yemen, in reference to Al Houthi rebels.

Bahrain in July said that Bahrainis who attempted to smuggle in weapons, ammunition and explosives via the sea said they received the shipment from Iranian handlers. One suspect said he had received paramilitary training at a Revolutionary Guards camp in 2013.

Kuwait’ Public Prosecutor on September 1 referred 26 people, including one Iranian, to court on charges of possessing weapons, ammunition and explosives and spying for Iran and Hezbollah.

The defendants, linked to a terror cell, were arrested after the authorities uncovered a large cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives hidden underground at a farm in Abdali. The cache contained 24 hand grenades, 65 guns, 56 RPGs and 144kg of bomb-making material.

The ministers stressed the importance of a political solution in Yemen based on the GCC initiative, the outcome of the Yemeni National Dialogue, the Riyadh Conference, and the unconditional application of Security Council Resolution 2216.

The statement reiterated the GCC support to the legitimate government and to restoring security and stability in Yemen, and lauded the UN efforts to find a solution to the crisis.

The ministers said they condemned Al Houthi rebels’ violations and abuse of civilians and their irresponsible practices that hamper the efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to all parts of Yemen. They also condemned Al Houthi rebels’ attacks on the embassies of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as other diplomatic missions, in Sana’a.

Referring to the situation in Syria, the GCC countries said they supported a political solution to the crisis in the war-torn country based on the 2012 Geneva I Conference, without any foreign interference and with the departure of all foreign fighters.

The GCC said it welcomed Security Council Resolution 2235 issued in August that establishes for one year a Joint Investigative Mechanism of the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to identify individuals, entities, groups or governments perpetrating, organising, sponsoring or otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria.

The GCC said the resolution was a clear message from the international community to deal with the use of the banned chemical weapons and called for “serious cooperation” on the issue.

The GCC also called on the international community to shoulder its responsibility in supporting Syrian refugees, and praised the efforts and assistance extended by the GCC countries to alleviate the suffering of those forced to flee destruction.

The council said that Syrian refugees in the GCC states were treated like residents with benefits that included full free medical, educational and employment rights and services according to the laws governing residency.

The council lauded the material support offered by the member states to Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere in coordination with the host states or with the international humanitarian organisations. The council also praised the GCC initiatives to hold international conferences for donors and mobilise resources for humanitarian activities in Syria.

The Council said it welcomed the United Nations decision on September 11 to raise the Palestinian flag for the first time and expressed appreciation to the countries that voted in their support.

The ministers condemned the violations by the occupying Israeli forces against the sacred Islamic and Christian sites in Occupied Jerusalem in an attempt to alter the legal status of Al Aqsa Mosque. They also condemned the repeated assaults by Israeli officials and colonists on the mosque, saying they were blatant violations of basic human rights.

The international community should have a greater role in protecting the Palestinians the scared religious sites, they said.

The council said it condemned the joint statement issued by a group of states at the 30th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, saying it included fallacies and allegations about the situation in Bahrain.

The statement did not take into consideration the measures taken by Bahrain to advance the situation of human rights.

The ministers said they condemned the suicide bombings in mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and the terror attacks on policemen and civilians in Bahrain and welcomed the foiling of an attempt to smuggle explosives and weapons into Bahrain. They also condemned the concealing of weapons by suspects in an arms cache in Kuwait.

They said they supported all the measures taken by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain to protect security and preserve stability.