Iran-GCC summit: What’s behind the meeting, why is Bahrain not attending?
Al Jazeera
•Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:59:27 +0000
📰 What Happened
Iran says a meeting between Iraq and the Gulf countries will be held in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is under an Iranian blockade amid a deadlock with the United States. Bahrain says it will not take part. It has been hit hardest by Iranian attacks since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February.
🔍 The Backstory
The blockade has disrupted energy supplies worldwide. Gulf countries depend on oil and gas for most of their budgets, so they feel it sharply. Iran's foreign ministry called the meeting a sign of good intention and said regional security should be handled by regional countries. Iran's foreign minister also warned that a coming deal with Oman on the strait will not reopen it.
🎯 Why It Matters
The Strait of Hormuz carries a huge share of the world's oil, so trouble there can raise fuel and food prices far beyond the region.
Iran says a meeting between Iraq and the Gulf countries will be held in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz. The strait is under an Iranian blockade amid a deadlock with the United States. Bahrain says it will not take part. It has been hit hardest by Iranian attacks since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February.
The blockade has disrupted energy supplies worldwide. Gulf countries depend on oil and gas for most of their budgets, so they feel it sharply. Iran's foreign ministry called the meeting a sign of good intention and said regional security should be handled by regional countries. Iran's foreign minister also warned that a coming deal with Oman on the strait will not reopen it.
The Strait of Hormuz carries a huge share of the world's oil, so trouble there can raise fuel and food prices far beyond the region.