Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the US renewed calls for Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a joint statement.

The statement came after a meeting of the GCC Arab foreign ministers, the US Secretary of State and GCC Secretary-General in New York.

Iran barred multiple International IAEA's inspectors assigned to oversee Tehran's atomic activities in a move described by the UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, as "disproportionate and unprecedented."

Iran's move was a response to a call led by the United States, Britain, France and Germany at the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting last week for Tehran to cooperate immediately with the IAEA on issues including explaining uranium traces found at undeclared sites.

Despite talks since President Joe Biden assumed office, the United States has not been able to bring Tehran to agree to a new nuclear agreement, after former President Donald Trump left the JCPOA accord and imposed sanctions on Iran.

Iran’s controversial nuclear program that has been expanding at a faster pace since early 2021, is a source of great concern for its regional Arab neighbors. Tehran has long been projecting power throughout the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, arming and supporting militants and intimidating shipping in the strategic waters of the region.