Gulf States warn US against striking Iran, citing global oil market risks

Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia have opposed a potential US strike on Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal report.

The report states that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman have warned the United States not to attack Iran, cautioning that any such action could destabilise global oil markets and harm the US economy.

While these Arab states appear publicly silent, the Wall Street Journal notes that behind the scenes they are lobbying to prevent a US military strike, fearing it would severely disrupt the global oil trade and have inevitable economic repercussions for the United States.

Saudi officials have reportedly reassured Tehran that they will not enter into any conflict with Iran and will not allow the US to use their airspace for an attack.

This move is seen as an effort to distance themselves from a potential US operation and to curtail it.

The Gulf states are particularly concerned that a strike on Iran could disrupt the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf that separates Iran from its Arab neighbours and handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.

The Wall Street Journal further reports that the Trump administration has not clarified the precise nature of any contemplated military action against Iran, although officials indicate that the likelihood of a strike is high.

A White House official told the Wall Street Journal that President Trump has all options available to address the situation in Iran. While he listens to various perspectives, the final decision rests with him.

Just yesterday, Trump directly addressed Iranian protesters, urging them to resist the government’s attempts to suppress dissent and to seize control of state institutions. On his social media platform Truth Social, he stated: “Help is on the way.”