Gulf Leaders Discuss Regional Tensions At Jeddah Summit Amid US-Iran Mediation Efforts

ISTANBUL, April 28 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) discussed regional and international developments and ways to coordinate efforts during a consultative summit held Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi media reported.

The summit was chaired by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Anadolu Ajansi citing Saudi Press Agency said.

A number of issues and topics related to regional and international developments were discussed during the meeting, as well as coordination efforts among GCC countries, the outlet said.

The summit was attended by several Gulf leaders and officials, including Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah also attended the summit, representing Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah along with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The meeting comes amid international efforts to end the ongoing war and support indirect negotiations between the US and Iran mediated by Pakistan.

The US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to respond with strikes on what it described as US interests across the region, many of them in Gulf countries.

A ceasefire was announced on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, followed by talks hosted in Islamabad on April 11, but the negotiations ended without an agreement.

US President Donald Trump later said the truce had been extended at Pakistan’s request pending a proposal from Tehran.

The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Consultative summits among GCC leaders were first agreed upon in 1998 as semiannual meetings between regular summits, with the first held in Jeddah in May 1999.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU