������Ƶ

As the Israel-Iran war entered its fourth day on Monday, with the fighting intensifying and reaching dangerous levels that could disrupt life beyond the two warring parties, the Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers met to coordinate their policy. The six GCC member states, plus the bloc as a whole, had already put out similar statements calling for a ceasefire and condemning Israel for starting the war on Friday.

At Monday’s meeting, the six GCC ministers went beyond those initial statements to address some of the risks involved and suggested ways to handle them other than war. While the GCC and Iran have at times strongly disagreed on important issues, the organization and its member states have opted for diplomacy to settle those disputes. Oman, one of the GCC member states, has actively mediated between Iran and the US on the nuclear issue. ������Ƶ and Iran reached an agreement two years ago, with the help of China, to resume diplomatic relations after many years of disruption. Other member states have been in regular touch with Iran on its regional policies, over which the two sides have diverged greatly. All six foreign ministers met with their Iranian counterpart last October to work on this diplomatic approach. It is still a work in progress.

A paramount concern for the ministers was how Israel’s unilateral action has undermined respect for international law, including the UN Charter, in the region, which was already at a low point after 20 months of Israel’s unlawful war of extermination against Palestinians in Gaza. The ministers therefore condemned attacks on Iran as a “clear violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.” They called for an “immediate ceasefire” and a quick return to the diplomatic track, to “spare the region and its people the dangers of war” and to “safeguard regional security and stability.”

The approach was balanced, calling on “all parties to exert joint efforts” to de-escalate, “exercise maximum restraint” and choose diplomacy to resolve their conflict.

A paramount concern was how Israel’s unilateral action has undermined respect for international law

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

Nuclear proliferation has been a major concern for the GCC, especially as the International Atomic Energy Agency has voiced criticisms of Iran’s nuclear program, most recently in last week’s Board of Governors decision, which found Tehran to be in breach of its nonproliferation obligations. That decision, which was the first of its kind in 20 years, raised the prospect of reporting the breach to the UN Security Council, especially following Iran’s defiant reaction at the time.

Israel’s unilateral attack undermined that lawful process and raised the risk of a dangerous environmental fallout as it attacked nuclear targets with abandon, in violation of international law and international humanitarian law, which prohibit the targeting of nuclear facilities and installations, as clearly stipulated in Article 56 of the First Protocol of the Geneva Conventions.

The IAEA has raised the alarm about likely radioactive contamination as a result of these attacks, as did the GCC ministers in their statement issued following Monday’s meeting. They stressed the IAEA’s important role in preventive nuclear security and safety and warned of the “serious humanitarian and environmental consequences” of attacks on nuclear facilities, which clearly constitute a threat to safety and the international IAEA-run comprehensive safeguards system.

By attacking nuclear facilities, Israel has triggered a race to the bottom, if Iran retaliates in kind, for example. While the resulting contamination so far appears to be contained, according to IAEA statements, the potential for widespread radioactive contamination is real.

To prepare for nuclear and other environmental disasters, the GCC in 2012 established an emergency response center in Kuwait and put together various risk assessments and plans to meet any contingencies. On Monday, the ministers reviewed ongoing security coordination between member states under the GCC Joint Military Command and the ministries of defense, interior and other agencies dealing with these matters.

Norms that many thought were well established in the relations between nations have been torn asunder

Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg

The GCC Ministerial Council also stressed the need to safeguard maritime security, including the security and safety of waterways in the region. They called for “confronting activities that threaten the security and stability of the region and the world, including targeting commercial vessels, threatening shipping lanes, international trade, and oil facilities.”

It is clear that, unless the war is stopped, it will soon pose a serious threat not only to the region but it could spread way beyond. This week’s news indicates that the US, for example, could get more deeply involved. Other powers also appear to be moving in that direction. The GCC ministers therefore called on the UN Security Council and world powers to “assume their responsibilities toward bringing an immediate end to this war and preventing escalation.” In particular, it called for the resumption of nuclear talks between the US and Iran.

What is quite clear is that there is a serious deficit in the region in upholding international law and deferring to the UN Charter, which clearly calls for settling disputes through political means and refraining from the use of force. Norms that many thought were well established in the relations between nations have been torn asunder, including the principles of good neighborliness, respect for the sovereignty and equality of states, their territorial integrity and noninterference in their internal affairs.

This lawlessness has been a mark of this region in recent years. If the regional order breaks down completely here, other parts of the world could follow. No matter how worthy the cause, disregard for international law and the rules-based order, centered on the UN and anchored in international law, can only lead to chaos and disasters like those we are witnessing in the Middle East today.

• Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg is the GCC assistant secretary-general for political affairs and negotiation. The views expressed here are personal and do not necessarily represent those of the GCC. X: @abuhamad1