Gulf States

Khamenei vows to protect nuclear program, warns US over Gulf presence in written statement

Khamenei reiterated that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile technologies, accusing the US of causing instability in the Persian Gulf and vowing to expel foreign forces.

Iranians stand on a pavement along a street next to a billboard depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in Tehran on April 24, 2026.
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 29, 2026.

Gulf states reject Iran’s proposal to share custodianship of Hormuz - report

Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023.

Egypt’s dangerous pressure game against Israel - opinion

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, April 17, 2026.

Syrian President al-Sharaa positions country for regional role in Gulf, EU meetings


NATO withdraws troops from Iraq mission to Europe as Iran war rages

A NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the mission amounted to "several hundred" troops.

A TURKISH soldier stands guard as army and security personnel search a field after a piece of ammunition fell following the interception of a missile launched from Iran by a NATO air defence system, in Diyarbakir, Turkey, March 9, 2026.

Gulf states seek to balance diplomacy with deterrence policies as Iran war threatens region

Israeli and US actions against Iran, including strikes on key facilities such as Kharg Island, which hosts a large portion of Iran’s oil exports, have widened the confrontation.

 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.

UAE dismantles terror network tied to Hezbollah, Iran amid Gulf tensions, arrests suspects

According to the state news agency, the network was involved in "money laundering, financing terrorism and threatening national security."

Hezbollah terrorists march in the funeral of senior terrorist Haytham Ali Tabatabai, others killed in IDF airstrike, in Beirut, November 24, 2025; illustrative.

Epic Fury: Moral obligations before declaring war on Iran - opinion

Does a political leader who chooses to go to war have the right to unilaterally put the lives of millions of citizens around the world at risk?

An illustrative image of soldiers against a backdrop of words relating to warfare.

Gulf states at crossroads: Navigating the Iran war’s unwanted reality - opinion

The Gulf states’ ability to preserve stability, maintain strategic flexibility, and avoid being drawn into an escalation will shape the region for years to come. 

Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026.

Iran attacks pushing Gulf's Arab states toward unity, possible action against Tehran - analysis

Iran has sought to escalate incrementally against Gulf countries over the course of the three-week war.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud attends the consultative ministrial meeting in Riyadh, on March 19, 2026.

Iran demands compensation from UAE over alleged role in US strikes

In the letter, Amir Saeid Iravani said the UAE’s decision to allow its territory to be used for the strikes constituted "an internationally wrongful act that entailed state responsibility."

Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani of Iran attends Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East as members vote on two draft resolutions regarding the current crisis in the Middle East on March 11, 2026.

Saudi FM: Kingdom reserves right to military action following Iran attacks

Both political and non-political responses are possible, threatened Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan amidst increasing Iranian missile strikes across the region.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speaks during a press conference, as Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon hosts the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, February 6, 2026.

US intelligence chief: Iran's regime intact but weakened by Operation Epic Fury

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies that Iran's regime, though weakened, is still capable of targeting US and allied interests in the Middle East.

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, March 18, 2026.

Iran's IRGC Navy chief threatens retaliatory strikes on oil facilities across Gulf

Later, after Iran threatened Gulf states with retaliatory strikes, Qatar and Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted multiple incoming missile barrages targeting oil and industrial sites.

Plumes of smoke rise over the oil depot tanks hit by joint Israel-U.S. over night in a station north west of the capital on March 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran; illustrative.