New York, September 26 (QNA) - Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said the security of the Arabian Gulf is an integral part of regional and global security, and that stability in the region is directly linked to global energy security, the continuity of international trade and the sustainability of global supply chains.

In remarks delivered on behalf of his country before the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Prince Faisal said Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region had been subjected to blatant Iranian attacks targeting their security, assets and civilian and economic facilities.

He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's full right to protect its security and sovereignty, its citizens and residents, and its national assets, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities in confronting anything that threatens international peace and security.

Protecting international navigation and sustaining global supply chains are a shared responsibility that requires serious international cooperation to prevent the global economy from being exposed to risks that affect the entire world, he said. He stressed the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation in all international waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab Al Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

He said energy security depends on the strength and resilience of the energy system, its ability to withstand and adapt to disruptions, ensuring stable energy supplies, protecting critical infrastructure and diversifying supply routes.

Prince Faisal called for conditions in the Strait of Hormuz to return to what they were before Feb. 28, with no fees or restrictions imposed. He also rejected the use by any party of these vital waterways as a tool for pressure, threats, or harm to the interests of states, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

He said Saudi Arabia supports efforts and initiatives aimed at de-escalation, particularly those led by Qatar and Pakistan, which would help restore stability to the region and create conditions conducive to dialogue and diplomacy.

He also stressed the need to make the region completely free of weapons of mass destruction and for peaceful nuclear programs to be subject to international monitoring, verification and safeguards in a way that builds confidence and protects regional and international security.

On the Palestinian issue, Prince Faisal said the continued suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Israel's targeting of civilians, obstruction of humanitarian aid, attempts at forced displacement and continued illegal settlement expansion constitute serious violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

The Saudi foreign minister reiterated his country's rejection of all attempts to displace Palestinians or alter the reality on the ground in the Palestinian territories, stressing that lasting and just peace can be achieved only through implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He also reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's support for efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution that would ensure Yemen's stability and support its economy. He stressed the importance of Sudan's stability and preserving its unity, territorial integrity, national assets and institutions, as well as supporting efforts to strengthen Syria's security, stability and territorial integrity.

Saudi Arabia rejects any violations that undermine efforts to restore stability and security in Syria or infringe on its sovereignty or territorial integrity, he said. He also reiterated the kingdom's support for the Lebanese state and its legitimate institutions, the implementation of the Taif Agreement and the state's exclusive control over weapons.

Prince Faisal noted that the 81st session of the General Assembly is taking place at a time when the world and the multilateral system face rapidly evolving and unprecedented challenges, amid continuing crises and conflicts in many parts of the world.

This increases the need to uphold the principles of the UN Charter, respect international law and strengthen the effectiveness of international institutions in maintaining peace and security and achieving sustainable development, he said.

The Saudi foreign minister stressed that the world today needs the greatest possible degree of wisdom, responsibility and cooperation, and that no country can address the challenges facing states on its own. Security can be firmly established and sustained only through adherence to the principles on which the UN Charter was founded and respect for international law, he said. (QNA)