Seven Arab States Assert Self-Defense Rights Against Iran Military Actions

Seven regional governments formalized their security stance on Thursday, releasing a coordinated statement that condemns what they characterize as sustained Iranian military aggression and asserts their legal entitlement to armed response under international law.

The statement, issued jointly by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, frames the conflict in explicitly legal and institutional terms. The signatories argue that Iranian attacks have persisted without interruption since February 28 and have accelerated despite a June 17 memorandum of understanding negotiated between the United States and Iran. The statement names Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan as particularly vulnerable, citing damage to energy infrastructure, desalination facilities, ports and airports.

The seven countries characterize the Iranian operations as violations of multiple international instruments: the UN Charter, general international law, international humanitarian law, UN Security Council Resolution 2817 from 2026, and Iran’s own commitments under the June memorandum. They invoke Article 51 of the UN Charter, which codifies the inherent right of states to self-defense, and pledge to deploy “all lawful measures necessary to protect their sovereignty, territories, citizens, commercial shipping and critical infrastructure.”

The statement directs specific requests toward the UN Security Council, calling for an urgent resolution that would demand an immediate cessation of Iranian attacks, formally recognize the affected countries’ self-defense rights, and authorize additional measures should the attacks persist. This framing positions the seven signatories as aggrieved parties seeking institutional validation rather than unilateral actors.

Iraq’s role in the broader security architecture draws direct attention. The seven countries welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s commitment to place all weapons under state control by September 30, signaling support for Baghdad’s efforts to prevent Iran-backed factions, militias and armed groups from using Iraqi territory as a staging ground for attacks against regional neighbors.

Maritime security emerges as a secondary but significant concern. The signatories reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, two critical chokepoints for global energy and commercial shipping. They expressed willingness to collaborate with regional states and the International Maritime Organization to establish permanent maritime arrangements that align with international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, state sovereignty and principles of neighborly relations.

The statement also includes expressions of solidarity with Saudi Arabia, endorsing its measures to protect sovereignty and security. It commended Saudi Arabia and Oman for their diplomatic work aimed at achieving a comprehensive political resolution to the Yemen conflict, a signal that the signatories view de-escalation efforts as compatible with their assertion of self-defense rights.

By invoking specific UN resolutions and charter provisions, the seven countries seek to elevate their grievances from regional dispute to matters of international law enforcement. Whether the Security Council moves to formalize that framing, particularly on the question of authorizing additional measures, will determine how much institutional weight this coordinated position ultimately carries.