Maldives president calls leaders of Gulf Arab states, pledges solidarity

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says he has been calling leaders of Gulf Arab states to pledge solidarity as they come under fire from Iran in retaliation for joint attacks by the United States and Israel.

He made the remark at a press briefing on Monday morning.

At the briefing, President Muizzu condemned attacks by the US and Israel, as well as the retaliatory attacks by Iran on neighboring Gulf Arab states that host US assets.

He noted that many of these countries host Maldivian citizens.

President Muizzu said he has been calling leaders of Gulf Arab states to reiterate Maldives’ support and cooperation at such trying times.

He said that he called the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday, and reaffirmed Maldives’ solidarity.

He said that he has another phone call scheduled on Monday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and more with officials from Bahrain and Qatar.

US and Israel’s attacked on Iran on Sunday killed its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top officials. This prompted Iran to unleash a barrage of attacks on Israel, as well as Gulf Arab states that host US arrests, including the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.