Name: Gulf states ‘damned either way’ in escalating US–Israel war on Iran, analyst says
Uploaded: 2026-03-08T21:31:22.000Z
Duration: 6 min 56 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Huge explosions have been heard in different parts of Tehran.

Millions of people in the Iranian capital are struggling with toxic air and rain after the US And Israel attacked oil storage and refining facilities for the first time overnight.

The Israeli military has warned it will target anyone who replaces Iran's assassinated Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The warning comes as Iran's clerical body is set to meet to decide who will succeed Khamenei.

He was killed in a US Israeli airstrike just over a week ago.

In Lebanon, 18 people, including children have been killed during an Israeli attack.

In the south, the Israeli military has been issuing threats to residents of southern Lebanon to leave their homes.

Now then, a special meeting of the Arab League Council has been held to discuss the conflict in the Middle east and the implications for the broader region.

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign affairs has released this statement.

It says the meeting discussed the Iranian attacks on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of several Arab countries which constitute a flagrant violation of international national laws and charters as well as the principles of good neighborliness.

It also addressed the serious risks these actions posed to the security and stability of Arab states and the region.

And the Omani Foreign Minister, that's Badr Al Musaidi who mediated the U. S.

Iran talks before the war also released a statement following the meeting.

And he said the action taken by Israel and the US Against Iran is both immoral and and illegal.

But the retaliation by Iran against its neighbors is also deeply regrettable and unacceptable.

I call for restraint on all sides, a cease fire and an urgent return to diplomacy.

Then we have the King of Bahrain who has condemned what he called Iran's unprecedented and unjustifiable attacks against his country as well as other Gulf states.

King Hamad bin Issa Khalifa also praised the support and solidarity felt from the other Gulf countries.

The communications that we have received from brotherly and friendly nations from all around the world confirming and stressing their full support to the kingdom and stability, expressing their wishes, their good wishes.

Bahrain with the help with the grace of Allah would be steadfast on wisdom and moderate treading forward with confidence, meeting its commitments to the its Arab neighborhood and the international community.

Okay, let's take this on with Dania Thafer who is Executive Director of the Gulf International Forum of Think Tank based in Washington D.C.

For the Gulf states to get on the front foot on this without escalating isn't is very difficult.

They're right now trying to balance between all the parties.

You know, from their perspective, there are two bullies in the region, Israel and Iran.

And then their greatest ally, the US supported this war.

So it's a very difficult balancing act for the Gulf states.

Right now, as I mentioned, not all the Gulf states were attacked equally.

And so also not all the Gulf states want to respond equally.

So their threat perception is different, I guess.

Their threat perception is different and then therefore their response to that would be different.

And that means there's not a united front on how to respond other than having a defense posture and also trying to de escalate.

I think that's the lowest common denominator the Gulf states have right now.

As far as you know, are there any channels of communication between the Gulf states and the Iranian leadership, such as it is?

Well, yes, there has been communication, I think back and forth.

I have heard of some calls between, for example, the Qatari foreign Minister and Prime Minister with Iran Iranian leadership.

And so yes, there has been communication, but

I think most of that communication is to share their frustration with the situation and try to find a solution to this situation and deter any more attacks on the Gulf states.

We have this statement from the Revolutionary Guard saying that if attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure don't stop, they're going to respond with similar action in the region.

That would be of course, a great concern to Gulf states.

That is a major concern for the Gulf states.

Of course, the energy infrastructure is important to the economic well being of the Gulf states, but

it's also equally important to the global international economy and therefore an escalation on Gulf energy infrastructure is an escalation with the international community.

On top of that, Iran has targeted a desalination plant in Bahrain, which is very problematic for the Gulf states because Gulf states are, I believe, between 60 to almost 100% dependent on water desalination for everyday water use.

And therefore that is also a major threat for the Gulf states.

The fact that the US struck desalination plants in, in Iran does put the Gulf states unfortunately in a bad situation.

And the fact that US is striking oil facilities in Iran is putting the Gulf in a bad situation as well.

Finally, Daniel, can you see a situation where the Gulf states would have no option other than to go on the offensive?

I think the situation that would cause that is if the attacks and the damage is equivalent to what they would do if, you know, if they joined the war, then there's no incentive to not join the war.

The other thing is, you know, some, some Iranian thought leaders I, if you would want to call them that, they are trying to say that the US Is launching from the Gulf attacks on Iran, which is completely not true.

And I think if Iran keeps making that argument and using that as a legitimate reason to attack the Gulf states, then the Gulf states will eventually say, okay, let the US Attack from here.

Because it's the same if, if you do or don't.

So damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Daniel Thafer, appreciate your expertise.

Subtitles ListPlay Video

Gulf states ‘damned either way’ in escalating US–Israel war on Iran, analyst says

perception

equivalent

situation

delicate