Knowledge Tree
Gulf Cooperation Council
Also known as: GCC
Facts (76)
Sources
Iran's Strategies in Response To Changes in US-China Relations mepc.org 21 facts
claimIran's ideological framework, which is built around the notion of American decline and the emergence of a new global order, serves as the primary strategic response to changes between superpowers and drives Tehran's policies toward China, the GCC, and Russia.
claimBusiness relations between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council have expanded beyond energy demand to include infrastructure investment and the exchange of technology, goods, and services.
claimIran normalized relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) at a time when Iranian policy makers anticipated an increase in China’s regional power and viewed that increase as a means to fulfill Iran's strategic vision.
claimChina supported the termination of the arms embargo on Iran in 2020, despite concerns raised by other regional players, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
claimChinese political leaders describe expanding ties with Beijing as 'an opportunity to enrich the strategic substance' of the relationships with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
claimIn 2021, Chinese officials described the China-GCC relationship as a method to build synergy between China's new development paradigm and major development strategies in the region.
claimThe Iranian government presented the “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” (HOPE) during the GCC’s internal crisis with Qatar and the initial stage of the US-China trade war, motivated by a long-held aspiration to undermine United States hegemony.
claimPrior to the 2023 Iran-Saudi agreement, the relationship between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was defined by intra-regional threat perceptions and intense mutual securitization.
claimChina became the Gulf Cooperation Council's largest trading partner by 2021.
claimThe diplomatic deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which was brokered by China, shifted the dynamics of the relationship between Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
perspectiveIranian senior leaders believe that expanding China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) cooperation provides an opportunity for Iran to enter China’s realm of influence, which will end the United States-led global system.
perspectiveIran believes that increased collaboration between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China will be to the detriment of the United States.
perspectiveThe analysis in the MEPC essay concludes that Iran's ideological framework, which is built around the notion of American decline and the emergence of a new global order, serves as the primary strategic response to changes between superpowers and the driving force for Tehran’s policies toward China, the GCC, and Russia.
claimIran has sought normalization with regional neighbors in the hope of benefiting from collaboration with both Beijing and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
claimThe United States government failed to offer meaningful solutions during the long-running hostilities between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
claimThe normalization of diplomatic ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia is expected to facilitate a tripartite peace deal involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis to address security concerns within the Gulf Cooperation Council.
perspectiveIran's strategic calculus regarding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is influenced by the perception of United States decline and the rise of China.
claimIran places high strategic value on its economic ties with China and seeks to improve economic relations with both China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
claimChinese political leaders emphasize 'equality between countries regardless of their size' and support for 'independent sovereignty' in their engagement strategy with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
claimThe strong American military presence in the Gulf, resulting from long-standing warm relations between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, has historically excluded Iran from a position of influence in the region.
measurementBilateral trade between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) increased from $182 billion in 2014 to approximately $229 billion in 2021.
Iran and Middle East conflict impacts global economy - Deloitte deloitte.com Mar 18, 2026 8 facts
claimGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries may seek to replenish and upgrade their stocks of American air defense equipment in response to the conflict in Iran.
measurementThe six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council import 100% of their sugar, 91% of their vegetable oils, and 77% of their rice consumption.
measurementThe six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) bloc accounted for 38% of total foreign direct investment into the Middle East and North Africa in 2024.
claimArtificial intelligence investments and infrastructure in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations may be negatively affected by the conflict due to recent attacks on their data centers.
measurementThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has a combined nominal gross domestic product of US$2.4 trillion.
claimThe aviation sector of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) includes carriers Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad.
measurementThe six largest ports in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region have a combined capacity of nearly 54 million twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo.
claimThe ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens the economic and business environment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
From Arab Spring to regional reset: Saudi-Iranian rivalry ... - Frontiers frontiersin.org Sep 28, 2025 8 facts
referenceJ. Han and H. Hakimian analyzed the regional security complex in the Persian Gulf and the contours of Iran's GCC policy in 2019.
referenceJ. Han and H. Hakimian authored the article 'The regional security complex in the Persian Gulf: the contours of Iran's GCC policy,' published in the Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in 2019.
referenceM. Knights authored the policy analysis 'Rising to Iran's challenge: GCC Military Capability and US Security Co-operation,' published by The Washington Institute for Near East Policy in Washington, DC in 2013.
referenceM. Legrenzi authored the book 'The GCC and the International Relations of the Gulf: Diplomacy, Security and Economic Coordination in a Changing Middle East,' published by I.B. Tauris in London in 2011.
referenceMatteo Legrenzi wrote 'The GCC and the International Relations of the Gulf: Diplomacy, Security and Economic Coordination in a Changing Middle East', published in 2011.
referenceA. Abdullah's 2012 publication, 'Repercussions of the Arab Spring on GCC states,' examines the impact of the Arab Spring on the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
referenceMichael Knights analyzed GCC military capability and US security cooperation in response to Iran's challenge in a 2013 policy focus paper.
referenceAbdullah (2012) authored the work 'Repercussions of the Arab Spring on GCC states', published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies in Qatar.
Experts react: How the US war with Iran is playing out around the ... atlanticcouncil.org Mar 1, 2026 7 facts
claimGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states stated they would not allow their territory, airspace, or military bases to be used for operations against Tehran.
perspectiveAnwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, characterized Iran's approach as irrational and stated that Iran was isolating itself by failing to respond to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) diplomacy.
perspectiveAnwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, characterized Iran's approach as irrational and stated that Iran was isolating itself by failing to respond to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) diplomacy.
perspectiveAnwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, characterized Iran’s approach as irrational and stated that Iran is isolating itself by ignoring Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) diplomacy.
claimGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have consistently rejected war and stated they would not allow their territory, airspace, or military bases to be used for operations against Iran.
claimGCC states (Gulf Cooperation Council) have consistently rejected war and stated they would not allow their territory, airspace, or military bases to be used for operations against Tehran.
perspectiveIran made a strategic miscalculation by widening its confrontation to include the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, despite those states' clear and consistent rejection of war.
The International Implications of the Russo-Ukrainian War link.springer.com 6 facts
claimInternational institutions including the United Nations, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have struggled to address the challenges posed by the Russo-Ukrainian War, illustrating their limitations in mitigating large-scale global crises.
claimThe Gulf Cooperation Council's limited response to the war in Ukraine is attributed to complex diplomatic relations with Russia and the West, Russia's influence in Syria, and Russia's significant role in global oil markets.
claimThe war in Ukraine has raised questions regarding the effectiveness of regional security arrangements in the Middle East and South Asia, specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), in preventing major powers from engaging in aggressive actions.
claimThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but did not implement concrete measures to deter further Russian aggression.
claimBy 2023, the Gulf Cooperation Council's response to the war in Ukraine remained largely symbolic, highlighting the challenge of balancing diplomatic relations between competing global powers.
claimThe war in Ukraine has exposed the limitations of regional security arrangements like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in preventing major powers from engaging in aggressive actions.
The Expanding Iran War - ISPI ispionline.it 5 facts
claimIran's attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are motivated by retaliation for the assassination of the Supreme Leader and tactical necessity.
claimHistorically neutral actors, specifically the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, are being drawn into the conflict between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition and may be forced to respond.
claimGulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, which are historically neutral, are being drawn into the conflict and may be forced to respond.
claimIran's attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are driven by a tactical shift where the depletion of Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) leaves Iran with short-range missiles, cruise missiles, and drones that are primarily effective against neighboring countries.
claimRory Miller argues that Iran's use of missiles and drones against neighbors depletes US and GCC air defenses and serves as one of the few remaining retaliatory options for Iran.
United States and Iran on the Brink: What's at Stake? - CSIS csis.org 4 facts
accountAmbassador Ziadeh notes that Wendy Sherman, a member of the U.S. JCPOA negotiating team, initiated weekly informational sessions with GCC and other Arab ambassadors to update them on the negotiations.
accountFollowing the initial exclusion of Gulf states from the 2015 JCPOA negotiations, Wendy Sherman, a member of the US negotiating team, initiated weekly informational sessions with GCC and other Arab ambassadors to bring them into the process and mitigate strong regional tensions.
claimGCC leaders are actively engaging in diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions and address the Emirati-Saudi rift, which they view as a source of instability.
claimAmbassador Ziadeh observes that GCC leaders are actively working to reduce regional tensions and address the Emirati-Saudi rift, which they perceive as a source of instability.
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, April 2026 ... securitycouncilreport.org 1 day ago 2 facts
claimUN Security Council Resolution 2817, authored by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Jordan, condemns Iran's strikes against these countries, determines that these acts constitute a breach of international law and a threat to international peace and security, and demands that Iran immediately halt attacks and comply with international law.
measurementUN Security Council resolution 2817 was drafted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and Jordan, and was co-sponsored by 136 UN member states.
Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC globalpolicyjournal.com 2 facts
imageThe photograph accompanying the article 'Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC' is credited to Mohammad Hassan Taheri.
referenceThe study 'Iran's Strategic Approach to China, Russia and the GCC' utilizes thematic qualitative content analysis of approximately 70 documents from Iranian state official, advisory, and academic institutions published between 2015 and 2025.
After the War: Rethinking Regional Security in the Middle ... arab-reform.net Mar 13, 2026 2 facts
accountThe Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Egypt ended their diplomatic rift with Qatar following the Al-Ula declaration in January 2021.
claimRegional political dynamics are currently characterized by Saudi-Turkish distrust, relatively recent Egyptian-Turkish normalization, acute Saudi-Emirati rivalry, the fragility of Syria, the weakness of the Lebanese state, and internal rivalries within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org Mar 5, 2025 2 facts
procedureThe proposed regional security grouping, modeled after the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), would be led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia and invite participation from all Middle Eastern states and regional organizations like the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
procedureThe proposed regional security grouping, modeled after the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), would be led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia and invite participation from all Middle Eastern states and regional organizations like the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Power Transition in the Middle East: The Intersection of US Global ... populismstudies.org Mar 15, 2026 2 facts
claimThe Council of the European Union and GCC Ministers issued a joint statement on March 5, 2026, regarding Iran’s attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
accountIn a joint statement, Gulf and European ministers condemned Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, emphasized that GCC territories were not used to launch attacks against Iran, invoked the right to self-defense, and highlighted the importance of protecting maritime routes, supply chains, and energy market stability.
Iran War: Kinetic, Cyber, Electronic and Psychological Warfare ... resecurity.com Mar 17, 2026 1 fact
claimThe Iran war is causing significant impacts on countries outside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, specifically affecting energy security, trade, supply chains, remittances, diaspora safety, and strategic geopolitics.
An Integrated U.S. Strategy to Address Iran's Nuclear and Regional ... carnegieendowment.org Oct 26, 2017 1 fact
claimIran's rivalry with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council members has escalated from a simmering feud to a significant feature of the regional landscape in the last several years.
World Trade Without the US | Cato Institute cato.org 1 fact
claimThe ASEAN countries are expanding trade ties to the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Geopolitical Competition of the United States, China ... journalisslp.com 1 fact
referenceThe article 'The Impact of NATO and Gulf Cooperation Council Cooperation on the Security of the Islamic Republic of Iran' by A. Sanaei, Ardeshir, and M. Taheri (2015) explores how cooperation between NATO and the Gulf Cooperation Council affects Iranian security.
The Arab Approach to Mediation—Reshaping Diplomacy in a ... washingtoninstitute.org 1 fact
accountKuwait played a crucial role in attempting to resolve the feud between Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 2017 to 2021.
Iran and the Gulf: Why Hedging Is No Longer Enough warontherocks.com Feb 20, 2026 1 fact
claimGulf leaders have increasingly emphasized the objective of regional prosperity and agency over the past decade, as evidenced in Gulf Cooperation Council summit declarations, the Gulf’s 2024 Vision for Regional Security, and the actions of Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Riyadh.
The Axis of Instability: Iran, Proxy Warfare, and the Fragmenting ... meforum.org Feb 20, 2026 1 fact
claimThe Gulf Cooperation Council’s December communiqué condemned Iran's actions regarding the islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, which are associated with the United Arab Emirates, framing the behavior as inconsistent with de-escalation and confidence-building.