Gulf Allies Question US Ties Over Iran Conflict

Gulf allies are growing increasingly vexed by President Donald Trump's handling of the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a report in The Washington Post. Officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain attribute the regional instability to Trump's erratic policy decisions. A Gulf official revealed that anger towards Washington reached a peak after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, blaming the region for paying the price of an American-led war.

The dismay coincides with a new mutual defense pact signed by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, signaling the Gulf states' efforts to diversify their security alliances. Analysts note that while some Gulf nations like Oman opposed the conflict from the outset, others such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE initially supported it, hoping for a rapid resolution.

However, as it became clear Iran would not fall and the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, the anger towards the US intensified. Despite this, experts emphasize that Gulf states continue to heavily rely on the US for military hardware and intelligence. A former US ambassador to Kuwait and Iraq, Douglas Silliman, acknowledged the existing resentment towards the US for the war but also highlighted growing frustration with Tehran over infrastructure attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House defended Trump's administration, stating that relations with regional partners remain strong and that the US has maintained regular contact since "Operation Epic Fury." However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the possibility of resuming formal negotiations with the US, accusing Washington of breaching the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

The stalemate continues as Iran imposes a halt on commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran is in technical discussions with Oman to establish temporary maritime routes. Araghchi stressed that these talks are not indicative of a decision to reopen the strait to general transit, which he believes will only happen if the US fulfills certain conditions.