CAIRO (News Wires) – Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Abul Gheit affirmed that Iran’s perceptions regarding control over the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are legally baseless, lack any justification or legal grounds, and are wholly and categorically rejected.
This came in his address to the extraordinary ministerial session of the Council of the Arab League, held via video conference, on illegal Iranian attacks against Arab states and Iran’s obligations under international law.
Abul Gheit said the meeting was not only to reiterate condemnation of Iran’s “blatant” attacks on several Arab countries, but also to call on the international community to hold the aggressor fully accountable for its unlawful, unjustified, and unacceptable actions against Arab states, according to MENA.
He noted that Iran has not complied with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 issued on March 11, nor has it acknowledged that its attacks on Arab states in the Gulf, Jordan, and Iraq constitute a grave violation of international law, a breach of state sovereignty, and a flagrant violation of the principles of good neighborliness.
He called on Iran to immediately comply with the relevant UNSC resolution and assume full responsibility for the damages and losses resulting from these unlawful attacks, including compensation and reparations in accordance with international law.
Abul Gheit further stressed that Arab states “were not, and will never be, hostages to Iran for settling scores,” adding that Tehran’s assumptions regarding control over the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are legally invalid, unfounded, and entirely rejected.
He underlined that freedom of navigation in straits and international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, is guaranteed under international law and constitutes a core principle of the Law of the Sea.
He added that Iran cannot claim any right to control the strait, as it does not own it, and that any measures restricting navigation or imposing discriminatory transit rules have no legal or customary basis.
The Secretary-General stressed that the Arab League considers any attack on an Arab state, or any threat or intimidation against its civilian population, as an attack on all Arab states.
He reaffirmed Arab solidarity with countries targeted by such attacks, praising the resilience and steadfastness of their leaderships and peoples in the face of aggression that, regrettably, did not adhere to the basic ethics of warfare and deliberately targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure without distinction or moral restraint.
He concluded by expressing confidence that such “aggressive attacks will come to an end,” adding that Arab states will emerge from the crisis stronger, more cohesive, and more united.
The meeting was chaired by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, President of the current ministerial session.
