The Gulf is bracing for what its own diplomats fear will be the most destructive round yet of the US-Israel war with Iran. Speaking at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty warned that a second round would be “more dangerous, more destructive” and achieve nothing, while the UAE’s Anwar Gargash said the American and Iranian positions remain far apart and the region must prepare for the worst if they are not bridged (Financial Times).
The danger is already visible. Saudi Arabia moved schools nationwide to remote learning on Saturday as Houthi missile and drone attacks continued, and on Sunday the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone aimed at the kingdom’s south. Markets are reading every signal from Washington: Brent crude slipped 2.2 per cent to $110.9 a barrel on Monday on reports that Trump had urged Netanyahu to keep diplomacy going.
The real fear across the region is the calendar. Many expect Washington and Tel Aviv to open an intense new phase after Tuesday’s midterms, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, power plants and wider infrastructure. Tehran has promised a fierce response, and supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has said retaliation would come “without any geographical limitations.” For Gulf states, that means airports, desalination plants and energy facilities could once again be in the line of fire. The record backs their concern: the UAE took the heaviest Iranian fire in March, and the summer wave mostly hit Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, while attacks on Hormuz shipping have already choked a vital energy and supply route.
Diplomacy is still alive, but barely. Qatar is leading efforts to secure an interim US-Iran deal before the midterms, with Iranian officials in Doha over the weekend after a Qatari delegation visited Tehran. Araghchi insists Iran is militarily ready but still giving diplomacy a chance.
The lesson for the wider region, Pakistan included, is clear. Another war in the Gulf would not stay in the Gulf. It would hit energy prices, trade routes and the economies of every country that depends on them. Regional states pushing for a negotiated settlement are making the only sensible argument on the table, and those beating the drum for escalation should explain who pays for it.
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s latest assertions on Afghanistan and terrorism are clear indication that Washington acknowledges Pakistan’s security concerns about terrorism originating from
Diplomacy Or Destruction As Gulf Awaits Post-Midterm Strikes
The Gulf is bracing for what its own diplomats fear will be the most destructive round yet of the US-Israel war with Iran. Speaking at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Egypt’s foreign minister Badr Abdelatty warned that a second round would be “more dangerous, more destructive” and achieve nothing, while the UAE’s Anwar Gargash said the American and Iranian positions remain far apart and the region must prepare for the worst if they are not bridged (Financial Times).
The danger is already visible. Saudi Arabia moved schools nationwide to remote learning on Saturday as Houthi missile and drone attacks continued, and on Sunday the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a ballistic missile and a drone aimed at the kingdom’s south. Markets are reading every signal from Washington: Brent crude slipped 2.2 per cent to $110.9 a barrel on Monday on reports that Trump had urged Netanyahu to keep diplomacy going.
The real fear across the region is the calendar. Many expect Washington and Tel Aviv to open an intense new phase after Tuesday’s midterms, targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile sites, power plants and wider infrastructure. Tehran has promised a fierce response, and supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has said retaliation would come “without any geographical limitations.” For Gulf states, that means airports, desalination plants and energy facilities could once again be in the line of fire. The record backs their concern: the UAE took the heaviest Iranian fire in March, and the summer wave mostly hit Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, while attacks on Hormuz shipping have already choked a vital energy and supply route.
Diplomacy is still alive, but barely. Qatar is leading efforts to secure an interim US-Iran deal before the midterms, with Iranian officials in Doha over the weekend after a Qatari delegation visited Tehran. Araghchi insists Iran is militarily ready but still giving diplomacy a chance.
The lesson for the wider region, Pakistan included, is clear. Another war in the Gulf would not stay in the Gulf. It would hit energy prices, trade routes and the economies of every country that depends on them. Regional states pushing for a negotiated settlement are making the only sensible argument on the table, and those beating the drum for escalation should explain who pays for it.
SAT Commentary
SAT Commentaries, a collection of insightful social media threads on current events and social issues, featuring diverse perspectives from various authors.
SAT Commentary
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