Gulf States

Turkey, Syria, Jordan unveil Gulf-Europe rail corridor as Ankara pushes alternative trade routes

The proposed network would run from Europe through Turkey, continue across Syrian territory, and extend into Jordan, creating a continuous land bridge between Mediterranean ports and Gulf markets.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa attend a press conference at joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 4, 2025; illustrative.
Hapag-Lloyd sign on a container ship at the Valparaiso port, Chile, January 11, 2024.

Shipping firms seek clarifications before crossing Hormuz as tankers move towards Strait

US President Trump meets with Russian President Putin in Alaska, August 15, 2025

US-Israel war with Iran reshapes global alliances, benefits Russia - opinion

Prior to Russia’s 2022 invasion, Ukraine hadn’t invested in drone technology, but now it is considered to be a master of drone warfare.

Ukraine downed Iranian drones in Middle East during Iran war, Zelensky claims


Iran demands compensation from UAE over alleged role in US strikes

In the letter, Amir Saeid Iravani said the UAE’s decision to allow its territory to be used for the strikes constituted "an internationally wrongful act that entailed state responsibility."

Ambassador Amir-Saeid Iravani of Iran attends Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East as members vote on two draft resolutions regarding the current crisis in the Middle East on March 11, 2026.

Saudi FM: Kingdom reserves right to military action following Iran attacks

Both political and non-political responses are possible, threatened Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan amidst increasing Iranian missile strikes across the region.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speaks during a press conference, as Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon hosts the foreign ministers of Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, in Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenia, February 6, 2026.

US intelligence chief: Iran's regime intact but weakened by Operation Epic Fury

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testifies that Iran's regime, though weakened, is still capable of targeting US and allied interests in the Middle East.

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US, March 18, 2026.

Iran's IRGC Navy chief threatens retaliatory strikes on oil facilities across Gulf

Later, after Iran threatened Gulf states with retaliatory strikes, Qatar and Saudi Arabia reportedly intercepted multiple incoming missile barrages targeting oil and industrial sites.

Plumes of smoke rise over the oil depot tanks hit by joint Israel-U.S. over night in a station north west of the capital on March 8, 2026 in Tehran, Iran; illustrative.

Iran attacks may shift Gulf states from de-escalation to backing regime defeat - analysis

With large expat populations and large numbers of foreign workers, Gulf States thrive based on trade and having airports open and oil tankers able to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Smoke rises above Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 5, 2026

Saudi Arabia rejects war with Iran and views Israel as a destabilizing force - opinion

The Gulf states see conflict with Iran as a threat to security, prosperity, and long-term plans.

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman waves as he departs following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 18, 2025.

Jordan’s careful war calculus in balance as Islamic regime’s future unknown, expert says

Jordan’s carefully balanced neutrality has been expressed through both its diplomatic statements and through its actions, said Ofir Winter, a senior researcher at the INSS, Tel Aviv University.

Jordan's King Abdullah II meets the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, Qatar, March 17, 2026

Over 200 US troops wounded in Operation Epic Fury as Iran war enters third week

The US military's Central Command said the vast majority of those wounded had suffered minor injuries and 180 troops had already returned to duty. Ten of the injuries are serious, it said.

A US Navy sailor signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in support of the Operation Epic Fury attack on Iran at an undisclosed location March 4, 2026.

Trump warned Iran strikes could trigger retaliation on US Gulf allies, sources say

Pre-war intelligence assessments did not say that Iran’s response was "a guarantee, but it certainly was on the list of potential outcomes," said one source.

US President Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the White House from Florida, in Washington, DC, US, March 9, 2026

Gulf sources warn incomplete US strikes could leave Iran a lasting threat to oil routes - analysis

"There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center.

Iran and Israel flags on Middle east geopolitical map.