THE STAGE IS SET

The Gulf Co-operation Council scored a reasonable success with its first-ever resort to the United Nations Security Council, over the complaint against Iran's attacks on neutral shipping in the Gulf. The GCC did not get all it asked for but, almost certainly, obtained most of what it hoped and expected. By thirteen votes, the 15-member Council voted in favour of a revise GCC resolution calling on 'all states' to respect the right of free navigation in the Gulf and refrain from any act which may lead to further escalation and widening of the conflict. Two states, Nicaragua and Zimbabwe, abstained.