RNS: Iran has delivered a strong warning to its Arab neighbors and U.S. allies in the Gulf, threatening severe retaliation if their territories or airspace are used to facilitate Israeli strikes against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The warning, communicated through discreet diplomatic channels, was directed at oil-rich nations including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Qatar, all of which host U.S. military forces. This comes in the wake of Israel’s declaration of a robust response to an Iranian ballistic missile attack that targeted the country earlier this month.
Israeli officials, infuriated by the missile assault, have called for retaliatory strikes on Iran’s nuclear and oil facilities, viewing these targets as essential to diminishing Tehran’s military aggression. In turn, Iran has vowed to retaliate, threatening both Israeli civilian infrastructure and Arab states that might support an Israeli or U.S.-led attack.
The Wall Street Journal reports that several Gulf nations have expressed their reluctance to the Biden administration to be drawn into a broader conflict, cautioning against the use of their military infrastructure or airspace for strikes against Iran. Officials in these wealthy states are particularly concerned about the potential targeting of their oil facilities, which have historically been under U.S. protection.
The presence of a significant number of American troops in the region adds to the risks associated with any military action, putting U.S. forces in jeopardy. Additionally, Gulf states are acutely aware of the potential impact on the global oil market should hostilities escalate. A full-scale war between Israel and Iran could severely disrupt oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial conduit for global energy supplies.
Any interruption in oil flow could lead to skyrocketing energy prices, destabilizing both regional and global markets. Arab leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have reportedly committed to refraining from military involvement against Iran, fearing repercussions for their oil infrastructure.
In response to the rising tensions, the U.S. has imposed new sanctions targeting Iran’s oil and petrochemical sectors, particularly its “shadow fleet” of vessels that evade sanctions. The U.S. Treasury and State Departments have sanctioned multiple companies and ships involved in transporting Iranian petroleum, aiming to cut off financial support for Iran’s missile programs and regional militias.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, “Today’s sanctions target Iranian efforts to channel revenues from its energy industry to finance deadly and disruptive activity, including the development of its nuclear program and ballistic missile proliferation.”
The escalating tensions are further complicating the delicate alliances between Arab states and Israel. While these nations share the common goal of countering Iran’s influence, they remain cautious about entering a direct military confrontation that could lead to widespread instability in the region. Some Arab countries, like Jordan, have previously cooperated with Israel and the U.S. by intercepting Iranian projectiles aimed at Israel earlier this year, but supporting a full-scale Israeli strike on Iran is viewed as a significantly riskier proposition.
