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


Iran attacks may shift Gulf states from de-escalation to backing regime defeat - analysis

With large expat populations and large numbers of foreign workers, Gulf States thrive based on trade and having airports open and oil tankers able to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Smoke rises above Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 5, 2026

Saudi Arabia rejects war with Iran and views Israel as a destabilizing force - opinion

The Gulf states see conflict with Iran as a threat to security, prosperity, and long-term plans.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman waves as he departs following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025.

Jordan’s careful war calculus in balance as Islamic regime’s future unknown, expert says

Jordan’s carefully balanced neutrality has been expressed through both its diplomatic statements and through its actions, said Ofir Winter, a senior researcher at the INSS, Tel Aviv University.

Jordan's King Abdullah II meets the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar, March 17, 2026

Over 200 US troops wounded in Operation Epic Fury as Iran war enters third week

The US military's Central Command said the vast majority of those wounded had suffered minor injuries and 180 troops had already returned to duty. Ten of the injuries are serious, it said.

A US Navy sailor signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran at an undisclosed location March 4, 2026.

Trump warned Iran strikes could trigger retaliation on US Gulf allies, sources say

Pre-war intelligence assessments did not say that Iran’s response was "a guarantee, but it certainly was on the list of potential outcomes," said one source.

US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the White House from Florida, in Washington, DC, US, March 9, 2026

Gulf sources warn incomplete US strikes could leave Iran a lasting threat to oil routes - analysis

"There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center.

Iran and Israel flags on Middle east geopolitical map.

Gulf states use Israeli expertise against Iranian missiles, drones, ambassador to US says

According to Leiter, Israel has extended its help to all the Gulf countries interested in receiving it after more than 2,000 missiles and drones were launched against them by Iran.

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

Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise means Iran’s revolution is far from over - opinion

Mojtaba Khamenei’s appointment suggests Iran’s theocratic regime will pursue the same revolutionary path.

A picture of Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is displayed on a screen in Tehran, Iran, March 9, 2026

Delta, United Airlines cancel Israel flights through June as foreign carriers extend suspensions

At present, foreign airlines cannot land at Ben Gurion Airport because of a NOTAM from the Israel Civil Aviation Authority, which severely restricts activity in Israeli airspace.

An Airbus A321 Delta Airlines passenger aircraft is seen at gate while a Boeing 737 MAX 8 United Airlines passenger aircraft takes off at LaGuardia Airport in New York on February 22, 2026.

War tests India-Israel-Gulf ties but may deepen economic integration

The UAE-India free trade deal, the Israel-UAE agreement that followed the Abraham Accords, and the EU-India pact signed in January have opened new commercial routes across the region.

Smoke rises above Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 5, 2026