Gulf Monarchies Are Angered That Washington Ignores Their Views—but Are Gradually Being Drawn Into the War

Initially, countries in the region had hoped to preserve neutrality and prevent their territory from being used for strikes. However, following attacks on energy infrastructure, their approach has begun to shift. Saudi Arabia has allowed the United States to use King Fahd Air Base, while the UAE has moved to shut down Iran-linked institutions and is considering freezing Iranian assets.

Despite this, Gulf states continue to avoid openly entering the conflict. As noted, they fear being drawn into a war “they do not want to fight.”

“They are frustrated that they have little influence over decisions made by the U.S. administration, despite their alliances and significant investments,” the report says.

At the same time, WSJ sources say that in their contacts with the American side, leaders of the region are “urging that the operation be carried through to completion” and that Iran’s military potential be dismantled.

The publication notes that the WSJ has traditionally been associated with the “hawkish” wing of the Republican Party, which has advocated for U.S. involvement in a conflict with Iran.

According to the newspaper, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are considering joining military action. “According to these sources, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now seeking to restore deterrence and is close to deciding to join offensive operations. One source noted that the kingdom’s entry into the war is only a matter of time.”

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates is beginning to take steps to block assets linked to Iran, threatening one of the key sources of support for the ruling regime in Tehran; at the same time, discussions are underway in the country over the advisability of deploying its own troops to the conflict zone, alongside lobbying against a ceasefire that would allow Iran to preserve part of its military potential,” the article says.