Why did Gulf states ask Trump to hold off on Iran strikes? - analysis
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- Gulf states Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar urged President Trump to delay potential strikes on Iran, fearing regional escalation and attacks on their infrastructure.
- Leaders expressed concern that a limited US strike could provoke Iranian retaliation against vital assets like desalination plants and power grids.
- Gulf nations prefer de-escalation and negotiated settlements with Iran, viewing internal pressures as a greater long-term threat to the Iranian regime than external military action.
In a move that underscores the delicate regional balance, leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar actively intervened to persuade US President Donald Trump to postpone planned military action against Iran. These Gulf nations, while allies of the United States, harbor deep-seated fears of a wider regional conflict and the potential for devastating retaliatory attacks on their own critical infrastructure.
I have been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to hold off on our planned Military attack of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which was scheduled for tomorrow, in that serious negotiations are now taking place.
President Trump himself revealed that he had been asked by the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to "hold off" on a strike scheduled for Tuesday. The leaders conveyed that serious negotiations were underway and expressed optimism for a "very acceptable" deal for the US.
In their opinion, as Great Leaders and Allies, a Deal will be made, which will be very acceptable to the United States.
The primary concern for these Gulf states, as highlighted by regional analysts, is the risk of Iranian retaliation targeting desalination facilities, electrical grids, oil infrastructure, and vital shipping lanes. Professor Bernard Haykel of Princeton University noted that Saudi Arabia is particularly worried about Iran's capability to strike back at Saudi infrastructure, emphasizing the critical need for water from desalination plants, especially during summer months. A disruption could trigger a severe humanitarian crisis.
Saudi Arabia is worried that if Trump strikes the energy and electricity infrastructure in Iran, the Iranians still have the capability of striking back and destroying desalination plants, electricity generation plants - the infrastructure of Saudi Arabia - which cannot be fully defended.
Beyond immediate security concerns, Gulf capitals are also apprehensive about the potential for Iran to descend into a Libya-like civil war if destabilized by military action. Riyadh and other Gulf capitals have consistently advocated for de-escalation and negotiated arrangements with Tehran, preferring a path of detente over military confrontation. They believe that the Iranian regime faces more significant long-term threats from internal pressures than from external military engagement.
They don’t want a failed state in Iran because a failed state in Iran could lead to a Libya-like situation with civil war. That’s also something that could very seriously destabilize the region.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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