July 13, 2026

Brussels: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said that GCC states support the path of dialogue and diplomacy, whereas Iran continues to choose escalation instead. Speaking at the 3rd GCC-EU Regional Security Forum held in Belgium Monday, Albudaiwi added, “Iranian attacks on oil facilities in the GCC states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a global slowdown, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowering its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1 percent.”

According to Qatar News Agency, Albudaiwi highlighted how this regional shock has transformed into a global shock that is impacting the economies of both the GCC and Europe. The GCC Secretary General said, “These new threats resulting from this war ne…