Washington DC [US], March 23 (ANI): As the conflict in West Asia and the Gulf region enters its fourth week with no signs of de-escalation, senior officials from several Gulf capitals told The Times of Israel that they are urging Washington to keep striking Iran.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain believe Iran’s military must be degraded before any ceasefire — and some have considered joining the offensive. Despite frustration with how the US and Israel have conducted operations in the region, these Gulf states want Iran to emerge from the fighting with a reduced military capacity that no longer threatens them.
While former President Trump has expressed surprise at the conflict’s regional spillover, Gulf governments had largely anticipated such a response and that anticipation was one reason they opposed the conflict’s start. “Ending the war with Iran still in possession of the tools it is currently using to target the GCC would be a strategic disaster,” one Gulf official said.
All four officials agreed US and Israeli strikes were unlikely to topple Iran’s regime. Another official suggested Iran could be sufficiently deterred and that the war might be prolonged “to a point where there are diminishing returns.” He added Gulf states will likely invest more in anti-drone and air-defense systems after the war to better defend against future Iranian attacks.
The broader conflict, which began in late February, has seen repeated exchanges of strikes, raising concerns of wider regional escalation and potential disruptions to global energy supplies and security dynamics. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
