GCC Leaders Hold Emergency Summit in Jeddah Over Iran War Aftermath
JEDDAH: A high-level emergency meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council is underway in Jeddah under the chairmanship of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss a coordinated regional response following the recent Iran conflict.
The summit comes after a 40-day war between the United States and Iran, during which Gulf states reportedly suffered missile and drone attacks targeting key infrastructure.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the agenda includes reviewing regional and international developments and formulating a unified strategy in response to recent security challenges. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan is also attending the meeting.
Citing diplomatic sources, international media reported that a key focus of the summit is to develop a joint Gulf position on Iranian strikes that targeted energy infrastructure, military installations, and civilian facilities across GCC member states.
سمو أمير دولة قطر يصل إلى جدة للمشاركة في القمة الخليجية التشاورية وسمو #ولي_العهد في مقدمة مستقبليه.#القمة_الخليجية_في_جدة#واس pic.twitter.com/EZyxGTly0U
— واس الأخبار الملكية (@spagov) April 28, 2026
The conflict, which began on February 28, affected all six GCC countries, with damage reported to critical energy infrastructure as well as assets linked to American firms and military facilities. Although a ceasefire between the United States and Iran came into effect on April 8, Gulf states remain concerned over the possibility of renewed hostilities amid stalled peace negotiations.
Senior officials from member states, including Qatar’s Emir, Kuwait’s Crown Prince, Bahrain’s King, and the UAE Foreign Minister, have arrived in Jeddah for the summit. However, representation from Oman remains unclear.
The GCC headquarters is also located in Saudi Arabia, which is hosting the extraordinary summit.
Ahead of the meeting, senior UAE official Anwar Gargash criticized what he described as a weak regional response to the conflict, stating that while logistical cooperation among Gulf states was evident, the political and military stance was “insufficient and disappointing.”
