Saudi Arabia has called for urgent meetings of the GCC and Arab League to discuss escalating tensions in the Gulf, the Saudi official news agency said on Saturday.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said King Salman had invited Gulf leaders and Arab states to two emergency summits in Makkah on May 30 to discuss recent “aggressions and their consequences” in the region. Tensions have risen in the Gulf with the US deploying an aircraft carrier and bombers to the region over alleged threats from Iran.The invitation comes after four commercial vessels were sabotaged off the coast of the UAE and Houthi militias used explosive-laden drones to attack two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia.
Despite international scepticism, the US government has been pointing to increasing threats from Iran, a long-time enemy and also a rival of US allies Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir told a news conference that Saudi Arabia wants to avert war in the region, but stands ready to respond with “all strength and determination” following the attacks on Saudi oil assets, adding the ball was now in Iran’s court.
“It will do what it can to prevent this war and at the same time it reaffirms that in the event the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with all force and determination, and it will defend itself and its interests,” he said.
“The current critical circumstances entail a unified Arab and Gulf stance toward the besetting challenges and risks,” the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement.
Iran has denied its involvement in the attacks. Iran has repeatedly threatened to prevent shipping in Hormuz in the event of a military confrontation with the US, which has painful economic sanctions on Tehran in recent months.