March 24, 2026

Gulf states are moving closer to direct involvement in the war against Iran as continuous attacks on their territory and energy infrastructure push regional allies of the United States toward a more assertive stance, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Officials and sources familiar with the matter cited in the report said that recent steps by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have strengthened US operational capabilities while stopping short of full military participation. According to the report, these measures include allowing expanded access to military bases and targeting Iranian financial networks, signaling a shift as pressure mounts on Gulf leaders to respond.

Saudi Arabia has agreed to allow US forces to use King Fahd Air Base, reversing an earlier position that its territory would not be used for strikes on Iran. The shift follows Iranian missile and drone attacks on key Saudi infrastructure, including energy facilities and the capital, Riyadh. Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan said last week, “Saudi Arabia’s patience with Iranian attacks is not unlimited,” adding that “any belief that Gulf countries are incapable of responding is a miscalculation.”

 

Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are escalating their involvement against Iran as repeated Iranian attacks on their territory and energy infrastructure heighten regional tensions and pressure from the US; Saudi Arabia has reversed its previous position by allowing US forces to use King Fahd Air Base and is considering deeper military participation, while the UAE has cracked down on Iranian-linked institutions to cut off financial support, signaling a strategic shift aimed at curbing Iran’s aggression amid ongoing threats to critical infrastructure and vital shipping lanes.

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