Gulf States

Role of Gulf states in Iran conflict said to change over one week - analysis

Iran’s narrative was that some of the Gulf states hosted US forces, or in the case of the UAE and Bahrain, had signed the Abraham Accords with Israel.

Iran and Iraq map. Ilustration.
Saudi Royal Air Force fighter jets perform a fly-by during Saudi Arabia's 95th National Day celebrations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 23, 2025.

Saudi airstrikes targeted militias in Iraq during war with Iran

 Direction and distance sign for the Syrian capital of Damascus at Mount Bental Israeli military outpost on the Syrian border

UAE deepens economic ties with Damascus, eyes major investment in Syria's postwar reconstruction

An Airbus A320-271N aircraft by German airline Lufthansa city prepares to land at the Frankfurt International Airport, Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on May 6, 2026.

EU aviation agency extends its recommendation against flying to Israel, Gulf states


UAE targeted Iran's Lavan Island refinery during secret attacks against Islamic regime - report

The Emirati government didn't publicly confirm its participation in the strikes against Iran, which were done before the current ceasefire started.

An Emirates air force F16 performs a diplsy flight at Al-Maktoum International Airport during the Dubai Airshow 2025 in Dubai on November 17, 2025

Are there any winners in unfinished Iran war? - analysis

Explosions, US self-defense strikes, and renewed clashes near the Strait of Hormuz show how unresolved maritime leverage, Gulf vulnerability, and political deadlock could push the conflict further.

 An illustrative image of the silhouettes of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to a backdrop of their respective countries' flags.

UAE strengthens 'security cohesion' in Gulf with Bahrain - analysis

Amid new US arms sales and reports of Israel's close ties with the UAE, and Iran tensions, the close work of the UAE, Bahrain, and other Gulf states is essential.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, meets with King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, in Bahrain, in this undated handout image.

UAE bars citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq

Authorities instructed UAE citizens in these countries to contact the ministry through its emergency line for assistance.

The United Arab Emirates flag flutters against the backdrop of the Abu Dhabi Skyline following a reported Iranian strike on March 1, 2026.

Khamenei vows to protect nuclear program, warns US over Gulf presence in written statement

Khamenei reiterated that Iran will defend its nuclear and missile technologies, accusing the US of causing instability in the Persian Gulf and vowing to expel foreign forces.

Iranians stand on a pavement along a street next to a billboard depicting Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, in Tehran on April 24, 2026.

Gulf states reject Iran’s proposal to share custodianship of Hormuz - report

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi flew to Oman, one of the multiple Gulf states attacked by Iran, to discuss the deal.

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 29, 2026.

Egypt’s dangerous pressure game against Israel - opinion

Cairo’s live-fire drills near the Israeli border come as Egypt faces economic pressure, Red Sea instability, and growing questions over President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s regional strategy.

Military personnel stand guard on the day of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly's visit to the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Rafah, Egypt, October 31, 2023.

Syrian President al-Sharaa positions country for regional role in Gulf, EU meetings

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the Gulf last week as part of his efforts to shore up support for Damascus across the Middle East and Europe amid rising regional tensions.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkey, April 17, 2026.

Understanding Arab paradoxical positions in the Iran war - opinion

Arab states avoid direct war with Iran while shaping its outcome, using economic pressure and strategic distance to weaken a regional rival without escalation

Smoke rises from the direction of an energy installation in the Gulf emirate of Fujairah on March 14.

After Iran war, attack on Gulf States, will the GCC withdraw from Arab League - analysis

Abdullah Al-Khamis, a Kuwaiti political journalist, proposes an alternative: an Arab coordination council comprising the Gulf states, Jordan, Morocco, and Syria.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi chairs an extraordinary meeting of Arab League foreign ministers day before the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in Istanbul, Turkey, June 20, 2025