Iran War: Gulf states debate US bases, military alliance

"Saudi Arabia's patience is running out, the country's foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, said at a press conference after the meeting. His country would prefer a diplomatic solution and has made it clear it wouldn't allow Saudi territory to be used to launch attacks on Iran, the senior Saudi said. But Saudi Arabia would also use every lever they had to get Iran to stop targeting neighboring countries that were not directly involved in the conflict."

"Observers say the idea that the US would defend Gulf states because it has major military bases there has proven illusory, or at least not as effective as had been hoped. Many of the Iranian missiles and drones targeting the Gulf were not able to be intercepted by Gulf militaries or by the US."

""This is Netanyahu's war," Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief, Prince Turki al-Faisal, said in an interview with CNN at the beginning of March, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "He somehow convinced the president [Donald Trump] to support his views." Apparently the US also brushed aside warnings from the Gulf when deciding to proceed with the war."

Following an emergency meeting of Arab and Islamic foreign ministers in Riyadh, Gulf states expressed alarm over Iran's escalating attacks on regional energy infrastructure and civilian targets. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister stated the country's patience is wearing thin while reaffirming preference for diplomatic solutions and refusing to allow its territory for attacks on Iran. However, Gulf states increasingly question US military effectiveness, as many Iranian missiles and drones evade interception despite American military presence in the region. Gulf leaders view the conflict as primarily driven by Israeli interests rather than their own, expressing frustration that US decision-making proceeded without adequate consideration of regional concerns and warnings.

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