Full Breakdown
GCC Leaders Convene in Jeddah to Chart Response to Iranian Missile and Drone Strikes
4/29/2026, 12:37:30 AM
Jeddah Summit: Core Event
On 28 April 2026, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Jeddah, the first in-person summit since US-Israel strikes on Iran on 28 February. Delegates sought a response to the thousands of Iranian missile and drone attacks that have hit energy, civilian and military sites across all six GCC states. Attacks have eased after a cease-fire on 8 April, but the council remains vigilant.
Participants and Representation
Participants included Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The UAE foreign minister attended according to some reports; senior UAE official Anwar Gargash voiced criticism. Oman’s representation was not identified.
Official Statements & Responses
Saudi state media said the summit discussed regional and international developments and coordinated responses. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim said the meeting embodied a unified Gulf stance and a diplomatic path to preserve security. Qatar’s MFA spokesperson Majed al-Ansari warned against a frozen conflict that could reignite with any political shift.
Criticism & Opposition
Senior UAE official Anwar Gargash argued that, while GCC states had logistical support, their political and military stance was the weakest in history, a performance he found surprising compared with the Arab League.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differed on Oman’s representation, with no official delegate identified. Some reports listed the UAE foreign minister among attendees, while others left the UAE’s presence unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is true that, logistically, the GCC countries supported each other, but politically and militarily, I think their position was the weakest in history,” — Anwar Gargash, Senior UAE Official
- “The summit embodied “the unified Gulf stance” towards the war and the need to intensify coordination in pursuit of a diplomatic path forward to preserve the security and stability of the region, Sheikh Tamim said in a social media post after the meeting.” towards the war and the need to intensify coordination in pursuit of a diplomatic path forward to preserve the security and stability of the region.” — Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar
- “We do not want to see a return to hostilities in the region anytime soon. We do not want to see a frozen conflict that ends up being thawed every time there is a political reason,” — Majed al-Ansari, Spokesperson, Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- “During the summit, a number of topics and issues related to regional and international developments were discussed, as well as the coordination of efforts in response to them,” — Saudi Press Agency (SPA)
What's Next
US-Iran talks for a permanent cease-fire remain unresolved, and Gulf states press for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments. The GCC will monitor the cease-fire and coordinate any further security steps.
