Gulf allies want Trump to prolong US bombardment of Iran, officials say

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Gulf allies of the United States, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are urging President Donald Trump to continue prosecuting the war against Iran, arguing that Tehran has not been weakened enough by the month-long US-led bombing campaign, according to US, Gulf and Israeli officials.

After private grumbling at the start of the war that they were not given adequate advance notice of the US-Israeli attack and complaining the US had ignored their warnings that the war would have devastating consequences for the entire region, some of the regional allies are now making the case to the White House that the moment offers a historic opportunity to cripple Tehran's clerical rule once and for all.

Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain have conveyed in private conversations that they do not want the military operation to end until there are significant changes in the Iranian leadership or a dramatic shift in Iranian behaviour, according to officials who were not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Coverage Comparison

Two news outlets have reported on this developing story: the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Both provide similar core facts, but with different emphases.

The ABC's report focuses on the human and economic costs of the war for Gulf states, describing a "nightmare scenario" that regional royal families long feared. It details Iranian missile and drone strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, which have damaged infrastructure, disrupted daily life, and forced an exodus of tourists and worried families. The report also highlights the economic disruption from Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has cut off oil and gas supplies.

The SCMP, on the other hand, emphasises the diplomatic and strategic dimensions, reporting that Gulf allies are urging Washington to continue the war. The report notes that the US leader is "sounding increasingly confident" that he has the full support of his most important Middle East allies, including some that were hesitant about a new military campaign in the lead-up to the war.

Both outlets agree on the war's significant human toll, with the SCMP reporting more than 3,000 dead across the Middle East. They also both note the economic implications, though the ABC provides more detail on infrastructure damage and oil output disruption.

Key Claims

• Gulf allies press for continued war: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain have been conveying to the White House that they want the military operation to continue until there are significant changes in Iranian leadership or behaviour, according to US, Gulf, and Israeli officials cited by the SCMP. This claim is based on a single source report and has not been independently corroborated.

• War casualties: The war has left more than 3,000 dead across the Middle East, as reported by the SCMP. This figure has not been confirmed by other outlets or official bodies.

• Damage to Gulf states: Iran's attacks on Gulf states have caused significant damage to infrastructure and disrupted daily life, according to the ABC report, which cites analysts and regional experts. Specific examples include strikes on Saudi oil facilities that slashed the kingdom's output.

• Iran's strategy: Tehran has targeted US military assets and energy infrastructure in the Gulf, hoping that Gulf leaders would pressure Washington to abandon the war, as reported by the ABC. This assessment is supported by comments from Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, who said the targeting showed "pre-planning" and was not improvisation.

• Strait of Hormuz concerns: The weaponisation of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran blockaded and then conditionally reopened as part of a ceasefire, is a key issue in any talks to end the war. Gulf states and global powers view the blockade as a dangerous precedent that undermines freedom of navigation, according to experts quoted by the ABC.

Perspectives

• Gulf state perspective: Gulf governments are caught between their security dependence on the US and the devastating consequences of the war for their own territories. They worry that a premature end to hostilities could leave Iran weakened but still able to threaten them, and they see a strategic opportunity to cripple Tehran's regime.

• US perspective: President Trump is publicly projecting confidence in allied support, while vacillating between negotiating with a "decimated" Iranian leadership and threatening further escalation. Domestic opinion remains a challenge, with the war's costs mounting.

• Iranian perspective: Tehran's strategy appears to be to inflict costs on US allies in the Gulf to generate political pressure on Washington, while also using its control of the Strait of Hormuz as leverage. Iranian officials have not commented publicly on the Gulf allies' private lobbying.

• International economic perspective: The disruption of oil and gas supplies and the threat to shipping lanes have shaken global markets, making a resolution of the conflict a priority for the international community. The conditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has provided some relief, but concerns remain about the precedent set for future conflicts.