ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Major Gulf and regional countries on Thursday jointly called on Iran to “immediately” halt all of its attacks and warned of their right to defend themselves as Tehran carries out widespread attacks against energy infrastructure in the region. 

Foreign ministers from regional countries - including Qatar, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates - in a joint statement called on Iran to “immediately” halt its attacks and escalation in the region, following a meeting in Riyadh.

They affirmed “the right of states to defend themselves,” while condemning attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, desalination plants, and airports.

“Such attacks could not be justified under any pretext or in any manner whatsoever,” the joint statement added. 

The developments follow Tehran’s retaliatory overnight attacks on the region’s oil infrastructure, including sites in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 

Iran on Wednesday accused the US and Israel of carrying out strikes on a major southern energy complex and warned of its “legitimate right” to attack energy infrastructure across the region.

Saudi Arabia's defense ministry said Wednesday that it intercepted a drone en route to a gas facility in the country's Eastern Province, while Qatar's Ras Laffan was struck on the same night, resulting in a blaze that was subsequently brought under control.

QatarEnergy said on early Thursday that several of its LNG facilities were hit by “missile attacks,” causing large fires and extensive damage, adding that an earlier attack on Ras Laffan Industrial City also caused “extensive damage”, with no casualties reported.

Footage circulating on social media showed a large fire in Riyadh, with Saudi civil defense later saying it was intercepted and that four people were injured.

The Gulf countries called for an “immediate halt to all attacks, and unconditional cessation of any provocative acts or threats against neighboring states,” stressing that Iran should cease to “support, financing and arming its affiliated militias in Arab countries.”

It explained that the militias are serving Tehran’s goals rather than the interests of their countries.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on Wednesday that his country is “not going to succumb to pressure,” adding that such pressure “will backfire,” and accused Iran of pressuring regional countries and saying it “doesn’t believe in diplomacy.”

Iran-backed Iraqi factions have claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks on US diplomatic missions and military bases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region since the Iran war began in late February.

Amid its retaliatory strikes targeting 12 regional countries, Iran has expanded its attacks from US diplomatic missions and airports housing an American military presence to hotels, neighborhoods, and other civilian infrastructure, claiming US personnel and intelligence are using them as hiding spots.