Iran hopes that hitting Gulf states will drive them away from Washington, while the US and Israel appear to be using the Iranian attacks to pressure Arab governments to join the war. Gulf states are deeply wary of being drawn into a wider war, the long-term consequences of which they may ultimately have to manage alone. “That distrust is likely to be a barrier to Gulf states joining an offensive action,” he said. Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty ImagesSome smaller Gulf states may also be waiting to see how Saudi Arabia responds. The desert Gulf states have less than 1% of the world’s population but account for roughly half its desalination capacity.

Source: Egypt Independent March 12, 2026 13:30 UTC