Gulf States

Voices from the Arab press: Reading the Jeddah statement

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

SAUDI CROWN PRINCE Mohammed bin Salman (R) receives Bahrain’s King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa ahead of an exceptional meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council – the first in-person meeting of Gulf leaders since their states became a front in the Iran war two months ago – in Jeddah, April 28.
Surface-to-air missile launcher of the Patriot (Wisla) system newly integrated into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) stands at an army base in Sochaczew, Poland, December 18, 2024.

US Secretary of State approves $25.8 billion in weapons sales to Middle East allies - report

An Emirati F-16E fighter jet; illustrative.

UAE tried to coordinate with Saudi Arabia, Qatar to strike Iran during recent war - report

Iran and Iraq map. Ilustration.

Role of Gulf states in Iran conflict said to change over one week - analysis


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.

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.