WASHINGTON – As tensions between the United States and Iran continue unabated, Gulf countries reportedly warned the United States against a military strike on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The report said Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman cautioned Washington that any attack on Tehran could destabilize the global oil market and inflict serious damage on American economy. As Arab nations maintain a facade of silence publicly, behind closed doors they are actively lobbying the US to avoid military action against Tehran.
Officials fear that a strike would deliver a severe blow to the international oil trade, which would inevitably reverberate through the US economy.
Saudi officials assured Tehran that they will not engage in any conflict with Iran and will refuse to allow US forces to use their airspace for an attack, an unprecedented move aimed at both distancing themselves from US military action and attempting to halt it.
The stakes are huge as Arab states are particularly concerned that a US attack on Iran could disrupt tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf that separates Iran from its Arab neighbors. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through this narrow passage, making it a flashpoint of global economic vulnerability.
Donald Trump led administration has yet to clarify the exact nature of any planned military action, but officials suggest an attack is increasingly likely. A White House source told The Wall Street Journal that President Trump “has all options on the table” for dealing with the Iranian situation. While he hears multiple viewpoints, the ultimate decision rests solely with him.
Adding to tensions, just yesterday, Trump directly addressed Iranian protesters, urging them to resist government crackdowns on demonstrations and seize control of state institutions. Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, he declared, “Help is coming.”
With Gulf powers quietly lobbying behind the scenes and the U.S. weighing military options, the world watches nervously as a potential Middle East crisis threatens global oil markets and the U.S. economy alike.
