A week after Iran launched ballistic missile strikes on Israel, tensions are mounting as Israel prepares for retaliation. Amid fears of escalation, Gulf States, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, have been pressing the United States to intervene and prevent Israel from targeting Iran’s vital oil facilities.
According to an exclusive Reuters report, Gulf nations are lobbying Washington to stop Israel from launching an attack, fearing the repercussions of such strikes on regional stability. A source familiar with discussions in Washington confirmed that Gulf States are in constant contact with their US counterparts, expressing their concerns over Israel’s potential military actions.
Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy U.S. national intelligence officer for the Middle East and a senior figure at the Atlantic Council, commented on the Gulf States’ concerns, stating, “Their anxiety is likely to be a key point in discussions with Israeli counterparts, aimed at convincing Israel to undertake a carefully calibrated response.”
While US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed Israel’s response in a recent call, the White House has refrained from making any official statements on the matter.
The Reuters report also revealed that Iran has issued a stark warning to Saudi Arabia, cautioning that any assistance provided to Israel, including opening airspace for an Israeli strike, would be seen as an act of war. Iran warned that the safety of Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities would be at risk if they support Israel in any way.
Saudi analyst Ali Shihabi, closely associated with the Saudi royal court, confirmed this, stating, “Iran has made it clear that if Gulf States open their airspace to Israel, it would be considered an act of war.”
Fearing the consequences of being drawn into the conflict, Gulf nations have moved to close their airspace to Israeli military aircraft, seeking to avoid being caught in the middle of the Iran-Israel standoff.
Israel remains poised for retaliation after Iran’s missile attack last week. Israeli officials have promised that Iran will “pay” for its aggression, while Tehran has warned that any retaliatory strikes will be met with further destruction, hinting at a potential large-scale conflict.
In a recent meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, the potential Israeli strike was the primary focus of discussion. Both sides are reportedly assessing the situation as the threat of war looms over the region.
