The leaders of the Persian Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are urging US President Donald Trump to complete the operation and destroy Iran's military potential, WSJ wrote on Monday, citing Arab officials.
A “historic opportunity” for change
The NYT reported on Tuesday that the heir to the throne, Muhammad bin Salman, who de facto rules Saudi Arabia, was pressuring Trump to continue the war with Iran. The ruler allegedly argued that American-Israeli military actions constitute a “historic opportunity” for changes in the Middle East.
Authorities in Riyadh recently allowed US forces to use King Fahd Air Base in the western part of the country. Before the war began, Saudi Arabia stipulated that the US would not be able to use its territory to attack Iran.
— Saudi Arabia's patience with Iranian attacks is not unlimited, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday after a series of Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf. He added that the belief that Gulf countries are unable to respond is a mistake.
As “NYT” wrote, citing sources, Saudi Arabia sees Iran as a long-term threat to the Persian Gulf countries that can be eliminated by overthrowing its current authorities.
The daily noted that the Saudis do not want to cause the collapse of the Iranian state, which in turn seems to be Israel's goal.
Although the United Arab Emirates has publicly stated that it will not take part in attacks on Iran, according to “WSJ” findings, discussions about the country joining the hostilities are ongoing. The newspaper added that the authorities in Abu Dhabi are also against a ceasefire, which would allow Iran to maintain its military potential.
Both American dailies emphasized that the war has huge consequences for the economies of the Persian Gulf countries and puts them in a difficult political situation. The Arab countries of the region know that they do not have much influence on the US decision and are afraid that if Trump decides to suddenly end the war, they will have to face Iran alone – commented “WSJ”.
The US and Israel have been bombing Iran since February 28, which in response attacks Israel and the Persian Gulf countries, hitting both American bases located there and civilian targets, including mining infrastructure. In retaliation, the Iranian army also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which most of the oil from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait is transported to international markets.
