(by Alessandra Antonelli) (ANSAmed) – DUBAI, DECEMBER 11 – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states meeting in Kuwait on Wednesday discussed Iran, the Syrian conflict and the Saudi position as concerns the UN Security Council. The six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman – welcomed the ”new orientation” shown by Iranian leaders, saying they hoped that ”it will be followed by concrete measures that would positively impact regional peace”.

Last week Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, visited the oil-rich monarchies and reassured them concerning the Iranian nuclear program and promised that a new chapter in relations would be opened. The regional tour did not include the two capitals with the most problematic relations with Tehran: Riyadh and Manama.

Nevertheless, after the meeting the GCC welcomed ”the interim deal signed by the P5+1 and Iran as a first step toward an inclusive and lasting agreement”.

The final statement by the GCC nations condemned once again the ”genocide” underway in Syria and appealed to the ”foreign forces” involved in the conflict – an implicit reference to militias from Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and other countries allied with Iran that are fighting by the regime’s side – to leave the country. The GCC spoke out against the ”genocide that continues to be conducted by the regime under President Assad against the Syrian population” in the document, which also expressed full support for the Syrian National Council’s decision to attend the Geneva II conference, calling it once again the ”legitimate representative of the Syrian population”. Undivided support was also given to the position taken by Saudi Arabia towards the UN, for which it rejected a seat on the Security Council in October and for its demand for necessary reforms so that the organization that has ”historic concerns towards the Arab and Muslim worlds”can better help to ensure stability and world peace. (ANSAmed).