Tehran, Mar 2 (KNS): Iran has said it harbours “no hostility” towards Gulf countries despite launching retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region following recent US-Israeli attacks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks during a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, according to Iran’s foreign ministry.

“Iran harbours no hostility towards the Persian Gulf countries and is determined to pursue good neighbourly relations with them,” Araghchi said, adding that Tehran’s “defensive response against US military bases should not be seen as an Iranian attack against these countries”.

Iran began firing missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf, where the United States maintains several military installations, after Washington and Israel launched a major offensive against the Islamic republic over the weekend. The escalation reportedly resulted in the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The remarks came as foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait — held a virtual meeting on Sunday to coordinate their response.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the GCC said member states reviewed the “extensive damage” caused by what it described as Iranian attacks and discussed steps to restore stability.

The bloc said it would take “all necessary measures” to defend its security and protect its territories, citizens and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression if required. It also called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, warning that stability in the Gulf is a key pillar of global economic security.

Regional tensions remain high amid fears of further escalation.(KNS)