As Israeli airstrikes target Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Arab Gulf states are pressuring the United States to rein in its ally, fearing the outbreak of a regional war that could devastate their economies and destabilize fragile diplomatic gains.

Despite longstanding concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and proxy militias, leaders in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are alarmed by the prospect of direct conflict. “There is a shared position among Gulf states of wanting to contain and stop this war,” said Yasmine Farouk of the International Crisis Group.

Trump Refuses to Press Netanyahu as Iran Warns U.S.

President Trump has refused to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military operations. “If somebody is winning, it’s a little bit harder to [ask them to stop],” he said. Trump has privately approved U.S. strike plans but is holding back, hoping Iran might still abandon uranium enrichment.

Iran, in turn, has warned of strikes on U.S. military assets across the Gulf if Washington becomes directly involved, escalating fears in host nations like Bahrain and Qatar.

Riyadh and Abu Dhabi Resist Involvement, Recall Past Attacks

While both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi maintain deepening ties with the U.S., they are firm in limiting participation. Gulf officials have refused to allow U.S. forces to use their airspace for attacks on Iran, emphasizing neutrality. The trauma of past attacks—like the 2019 Abqaiq strike in Saudi Arabia and 2022 Houthi missile barrages on the UAE—continues to shape their caution.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman even traveled to Tehran in April to personally deliver a message to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: Saudi Arabia opposes war on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Economic and Environmental Risks Raise Alarm

The stakes are also economic. Dubai lies less than 100 miles from Iran, and any spillover could disrupt desalination plants, energy exports, and global shipping routes. Bahrain has readied emergency shelters, and the Gulf Cooperation Council is monitoring radiation levels amid fears of an attack on Iran’s fortified Fordow nuclear site.

Military analysts say Fordow’s underground location makes it a likely target for American bunker-busting bombs should the U.S. enter the war.

Strategic Dilemma: Regime Change or Containment?

Gulf states worry that talk of regime change in Tehran—echoing post-Saddam chaos in Iraq—risks dragging them into war. “If [the U.S. intervenes], it means the survival of the Iranian regime is at stake,” Farouk warned. “That might push Iran to give up on the detente and actually involve Gulf states in this war.”

Even as they quietly hope for a weakened Iran, Gulf rulers are acutely aware they are walking a tightrope between two powerful and unpredictable allies—Israel and the United States—on one side, and an embattled but reactive Iran on the other.