Tehran: Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly rejected the positions outlined in the joint statement issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), describing them as "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative," according to the official IRNA news agency.

According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the ministry said US claims of commitment to Gulf security amounted to "propaganda and a distortion of reality," arguing that the American military presence in the region has become a burden on its peoples and a source of insecurity and division.

Tehran said the use of military bases and facilities in some regional countries during the conflict between February 28 and April 8, 2026, to launch attacks against Iran demonstrated that Washington has little regard for regional security or the interests of Gulf states. It, thus, called on the countries whose territories were used in those operations to reconsider their positions.

The ministry reiterated that Gulf states have an obligation under international law and the principle of good neighborliness to prevent any third party from using their territories or capabilities to plan or carry out hostile acts against the Islamic Republic.

Iran also dismissed accusations regarding its nuclear program as "a major lie" promoted by the United States and Israel, urging Gulf countries to cooperate with Tehran in establishing a nuclear weapons-free zone in West Asia and to oppose what it described as US obstruction of the initiative. It said lasting regional peace and security could only be achieved through confidence-building and cooperation among regional states, free from US interference, considering that repeated references to the "Iranian threat" are intended to fuel fear of Iran.

The ministry also condemned the characterization of Iran's missile and drone programs as a threat, saying Tehran would not compromise on defending its sovereignty and military capabilities.

It further expressed regret over the GCC's endorsement of US and Israeli positions that describe Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements as Iranian proxies. Tehran argued that "the only proxy entity in the region is the Zionist entity," adding that the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples' struggle against occupation is a legitimate right under international law.