"Gulf states, encouraged by Donald Trump, are on the verge of ending their neutrality in the war against Iran in reprisal for Tehran's repeated reckless and indiscriminate attacks on their territory and infrastructure. The calls, led by the United Arab Emirates from inside the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council, are for the Arab states to act in self-defence against Iran, but it would be a huge step for Gulf leaders in effect to side with Israel."
"Iran had expended huge diplomatic effort in the past two years trying to convince the Gulf states that Israel, not Iran, is the chief destabilising force in the region, but much of that painstaking work in speeches, conferences, and diplomatic visits appears to have fallen apart in a matter of days."
"But Tehran's justification has lost traction as hotels, apartment blocks and oil refineries have come under attack in what is regarded as a disproportionate barrage. For some Arab leaders, Iran's tactics reveal the latent arrogance with which it has always viewed other countries in the region."
Gulf Cooperation Council states, particularly the United Arab Emirates, are considering abandoning neutrality toward Iran following repeated Iranian attacks on their territory and infrastructure. Encouraged by Donald Trump, these Arab nations are debating collective self-defense measures that would effectively align them with Israel in the regional conflict. Iran's diplomatic efforts over two years to position Israel as the primary destabilizing force have deteriorated rapidly. Iranian officials justify their attacks as targeting U.S. military bases in Gulf states, but the indiscriminate nature of strikes on hotels, apartment blocks, and oil refineries has undermined this rationale. Gulf leaders view Iran's tactics as revealing regional arrogance. Iran's strategic objective appears to be maximizing economic disruption to pressure Gulf states into requesting Trump end the conflict.
#gulf-states-diplomacy #iran-israel-conflict #middle-east-regional-security #iranian-attacks #gcc-foreign-policy
Read at www.theguardian.com
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