Gulf Allies Question U.S. Bases Over Iran Conflict
Dissatisfaction with Washington is growing among countries of the Persian Gulf — U.S. allies are concerned that Donald Trump is unable to reach an agreement with Iran, according to The Washington Post, citing Arab and Western officials.
Consensus
- Countries of the Persian Gulf—Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain—are dissatisfied with President Donald Trump's approach to the conflict with Iran.
- The dissatisfaction stems from the perceived inability of the U.S. to achieve a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
- Some of these countries have begun discussing the continued presence of American military bases on their territories.
- These nations recognize that the United States remains their primary security partner and main arms supplier, with no real alternative available.
- The conflict began in February 2026, with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
- The Gulf countries have experienced ongoing attacks, including from Iran and Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen.
- The situation has led to efforts to diversify security partnerships, including the signing of a collective defense agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan.
- Despite tensions, the Gulf states have not severed ties with the U.S. due to lack of viable alternatives.
Points of divergence
- A regional official stated, 'Trump started this war, and we are paying for it.' — tg_moscowtimes_ru
- The war with Iran began in February 2026. — meduza
- On June 18, the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding for a 60-day ceasefire and negotiations, which was later broken. — meduza
- Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain initially hoped for Iran's defeat but now believe Iran will not collapse or open the Strait of Hormuz. — kommerant
- The U.S. claims progress in negotiations, while Iran denies direct talks with the U.S. — kommerant
- The signing of the Mecca Pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan is described as a signal to Washington. — vesti
- The U.S. and Iran have resumed negotiations focused on restoring shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program. — meduza
- The initial agreement was disrupted by attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which the U.S. blames on Iran. — kommerant
- One European official described the Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan pact as a signal to Washington. — tg_echoonline_news
- The White House claims that Iran is more isolated than ever due to its terrorist actions. — meduza
Coverage (7 sources)
- Trump's allies in the Persian Gulf are increasingly dissatisfied, writes WP — Вести
- US allies in the Middle East are disappointed with Trump and considering abandoning American bases due to the war in Iran — The Moscow Times
- US allies in the Persian Gulf are considering the future of American bases — The Washington Post — ЭХО / Новости
- Gulf States are unhappy with Trump because he cannot reach an agreement with Iran. And they are thinking of abandoning the placement of American bases — Meduza
- Gulf States See US Unable to Reach Deal with Iran, Says The Washington Post. — ТАСС (Telegram)
- WP: Middle Eastern allies of the US are irritated by the lack of a deal with Iran — Вести
- WSJ: Gulf countries unhappy with Trump's approach to conflict with Iran — Коммерсантъ
Key entities
- USA
- Iran
- Donald Trump
- Persian Gulf
- The Washington Post
- Saudi Arabia
- WP
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Moscow
- Washington
- Middle East
- United Arab Emirates
- America