Iran has issued a stern warning to its Arab neighbors and US allies in the Gulf, warning them against using their territories or airspace to aid Israel in any possible attack on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports. If this is done then serious retaliatory action will be taken. The WSJ report claims the warning was delivered through secret diplomatic channels targeting oil-rich states like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Qatar, all of which host US military forces.
Israel vowed harsh retaliation against Tehran after an Iranian ballistic missile attack targeting Israel earlier this month. Israeli officials, enraged by the attack, have pressed for a retaliatory strike on Iran’s nuclear or oil infrastructure, which they view as vital to weakening Tehran’s aggressive military posture. Iran has promised to retaliate, threatening Israel’s civilian infrastructure as well as Arab states that could facilitate an Israeli or US-led attack.
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According to the WSJ, these countries have made known their reluctance to be dragged into a broader conflict by allowing the Biden administration to use their military infrastructure or airspace in attacks against Iran. Officials in these energy-rich Gulf countries fear that their oil facilities, traditionally seen under US protection, could become prime targets in the event of escalating hostilities. With one of the world’s highest concentrations of US troops deployed in the region, any military action could also put US forces at significant risk.
One of the major concerns for the Gulf countries is the potential impact on the global oil market if the conflict escalates. An all-out war between Israel and Iran could disrupt oil exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a key bottleneck to global energy supplies. Any disruption in oil flows could send energy prices skyrocketing, destabilizing not only the region but also global markets. According to the WSJ, Arab leaders, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, pledged to avoid any involvement in potential military attacks against Iran out of fear of the impact on their oil infrastructure.
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In response to rising tensions, the US imposed new sanctions on Iran’s oil and petrochemical industries, specifically targeting Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet” of vessels that have been involved in sanctions circumvention. The US Treasury and State Departments have designated several companies and ships involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum, part of a broader effort to cut off financial lifelines supporting Iran’s missile programs and regional militias.
“Today’s sanctions target Iran’s efforts to divert revenues from its energy industry to finance lethal and disruptive activity, including the development of its nuclear program and ballistic missile proliferation,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement.
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This rising tension is complicating the already fragile alliance between Arab states and Israel. Although these countries share a desire to counter Iran’s influence, they are wary of engaging in a direct military conflict that could engulf the entire region. Some Arab countries, such as Jordan, had already cooperated with Israel and the US by shooting down Iranian projectiles headed towards Israel earlier in the year. However, supporting a full-scale Israeli attack on Iranian soil is seen as a far more dangerous proposition.
