Iran-GCC summit: What’s behind the meeting, why is Bahrain not attending?

Iran says a meeting between Iraq and the Gulf countries will be held in Oman on Monday to discuss the Strait of Hormuz, which remains under Tehran’s blockade amid the diplomatic deadlock with the United States.

Global energy supplies have been disrupted due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting countries around the world. The blockade has particularly affected Gulf countries, which depend on oil and gas for vast majority of their budgets.

In a statement on Friday, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting is intended to “promote better understanding among the countries of the region and help strengthen shared regional security”.

But Bahrain, a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), has said it will not participate in the planned meeting. Bahrain has borne the brunt of Iranian attacks since the US and Israel launched the war on Iran in February.

So what’s behind the meeting and why won’t Bahrain participate?

On Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, told Al Jazeera that the meeting is “a sign of Iran’s good intention because we have said all along that the security of the region must be guaranteed by the countries of the region, without intervention by the foreigners, without intervention by the outside powers”.

“This is a sign we will talk to our neighbours, despite the fact that their territories, their military bases or the military bases of the United States, were used to attack Iran,” he said.

Gulf nations have accused Tehran of attacking civilian targets, including airports and desalination plants.