Gulf States Urge US Not to Stop Short on Iran

Gulf Arab states are reportedly pressing the United States not to cease its military campaign against Iran, expressing a strong desire for Tehran's military capabilities to be comprehensively degraded. These nations fear that an incomplete intervention would leave Iran positioned to continually threaten the critical oil supply routes of the Gulf and the economies reliant upon them. Reports indicate that Iran has already demonstrated its reach by attacking airports, ports, and oil facilities across the region, as well as disrupting vital shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The escalating conflict has reinforced long-standing anxieties among Gulf leaders about Iran's potential to hold the region's energy lifeline hostage. Washington, meanwhile, is reportedly encouraging Gulf states to lend regional support to the ongoing campaign. The prevailing sentiment among Gulf leaders is that a severely weakened Iran is necessary to avoid living under constant threat. However, these countries also harbor deep fears of triggering a broader, uncontrollable conflict. Unilateral military action by any single Gulf state is considered off the table due to the risk of retaliation, and consensus on a coordinated response remains elusive among the six Gulf Cooperation Council members. The strategic dilemma for these states lies in balancing the immediate threat of Iranian attacks with the greater risk of being drawn into a U.S.- and Israel-led war.