Gulf nations are navigating a delicate diplomatic balance as tensions escalate between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Hosting critical U.S. military bases while sharing geographic proximity and diplomatic ties with Tehran, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates seek to prevent a wider regional conflict. To safeguard their security and vital economic infrastructure, these Gulf states are reportedly urging Washington to restrain Israel and asserting that their airspace and territory cannot be used for offensive military operations against Iran.
- Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, are actively lobbying Washington to prevent Israel from targeting Iranian oil facilities.
- There are deep concerns that a major regional conflict could lead to retaliatory strikes against key energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
- Gulf nations have reportedly clarified that U.S. military bases on their territory and their airspace cannot be used for attacks against Iran.
- The current crisis tests the ongoing diplomatic rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was brokered to foster regional stability.
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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it continued retaliatory strikes at US-related targets across the Gulf region early on Monday morning. It claimed a missile and drone attack on Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base, which has been used by US military. Air raid sirens also sounded in Bahrain early on Monday.
Well spoken knowledgeable expert, thanks!
US just get all your troops back home instead. another Vietnam and Afghanistan war again but on steroid
The lady is very academic.
How can the gulf states be bystanders when they have hosted US military bases this entire time
The real question is the only way the straits of Hormuz will open like before the war and nuclear weapons ambitions will be rejected requires regime change? What does this expert say? Is Israel or the Iranian majority of possible use for regime change?
Cutie
It is a war between USA, Israel and Iran. Gulf countries would be insane to engage in this war. Iran is striking US bases in gulf, not their civilian structures.
There is a memory of understanding.
If the gulf states are smart, they will kick out the US bases, their association with the US make them a target for Iran and the US are obviously incapable of protecting them. In other words, it's not their war and it's more risky to piss off Iran than the US.
I support IRAN
The best resolution of this conflict for the world, USA, Israel and even China, is the removal of the destabilizing actions of Iran and its proxies in the Mideast and beyond. Prosperity and peace are not part of Irans revolutionary expansionist terrorist playbook and purpose.
Megan Sutcliffe is insanely spot on as an analyst. She doesn't miss a beat.
when you say so much yet say nothing
Looks like the "petrodollar system" is still very much in effect after all these decades.
😂😂 bystanders ???
Wake up
Very impressive and informative guest👍
Eventually, Iran will be forced to completely destroy the oil capacities of the surrounding countries. There will no longer be any interest for the US to continue the conflict and it could turn into a conflict between Iran and Israel but without the US. Kuwait's energy facilities are used for both civilian and military purposes (US military bases). The same goes for oil facilities that supply fuel to the US military.
MEGAN IS HAWT
Excellent!
⚓HORMUZ = BEST WEAPONS 🇮🇷 HAS 👈. ZAGROZ STONES MOUNTAIN 🇮🇷 BEST FORTRESS 👈
Why blame Tehran? Its only USA lead by Israel. They don't give a dime about the sufferings of the middle east countries.
Gulf state is pro and rulers are Esraills,US and EU green grass fields.police state mercenaries Esraillis US and EU are keeping them Power so loots of natural resources is easy only democracy freedom is in Iran.
Esraillis Free and leftover lunch eaters hugely indebted American tax PAYERS gives more military aid and economic aid also minor girls by JE island.
Restraint?😂😂😂these guys live in a parallel universe
2:30 very clear Iran does not seek to hold to those promises????
US, Oman and Qatar violation of MoU in Hormuz
The collapse of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the subsequent US CENTCOM airstrikes in Iran represent a classic breakdown caused by a fundamental flaw in a treaty's text. The agreement simultaneously mandated immediate commercial shipping and a 30-day window for naval demining within a narrow, 21-mile-wide choke point.
The conflict erupted not during the initial signing, but when the United States and Oman unilaterally established an alternative southern shipping route. This move split the international community into two completely irreconcilable interpretations of maritime law, safety, and sovereignty.
1. The Core Legal Friction: Article 5 of the MoU:
The entire crisis hinges on the text of Article 5 of the Islamabad MoU, which created an operational paradox:
A. The Text: Iran was given the responsibility to arrange the "safe passage of commercial vessels" for 60 days, while explicitly requiring a 30-day window to remove "technical and military obstacles, and demining."
B. The Operational Paradox: In a waterway as narrow as the Strait of Hormuz, conducting high-stakes naval demining (using acoustic sonar and controlled detonations) is physically impossible while massive commercial supertankers are actively sailing parallel to the explosives. The propeller noise of the ships blinds sonar, and detonations risk rupturing commercial hulls.
2. The Operational Reality: The "Islands Route" vs. The Southern Route:
The friction turned into military conflict due to specific geographic and tactical realities that went largely ignored by Western commentators:
A. Iran’s Safe Corridor: To balance the treaty's conflicting demands, Iran established a designated safe route hugging its northern coastline, weaving through a chain of domestic islands (Qeshm, Larak, and the Tunbs). Iran verified this specific corridor as 100% clear of explosives, intending to funnel all global trade through it while naval teams spent the 30-day window clearing the rest of the strait.
B. The Unilateral US Alteration: Citing fears that forcing Western ships into the island route gave the Iranian military too much leverage, President Trump declared an alternative southern route running through Omani waters. Shipping companies were instructed to use this route and turn off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) transponders to evade Iranian tracking.
C. The Floating Mine Threat: The middle of the Strait remained plagued by unanchored, drifting floating mines. By bypassing Iran’s coordinated island route and entering un-cleared waters with their transponders blacked out, commercial ships posed an immediate security and safety hazard. Iran deployed drones and fired warning shots to halt these uncoordinated vessels, arguing it could not fulfill its demining mandate or guarantee safety under such conditions.
3. The Divide in Narratives: The West vs. Iran:
Perspective The Iranian View (Operational & Legal) The Western/NATO View (Political & Strategic)
Feature
The Target of The US violated the MoU by unilaterally Iran violated the MoU by using military force
Blame changing shipping routes, (drones/missiles) to attack peaceful,
international commercial trade vessels.
The "Island A necessary, temporary safety measure A deliberate "geopolitical trap" designed by
Route" designed to protect ships Tehran to assert
permanent, illegal sovereignty and enforce toll
fees over a global waterway.
The Warning Mandatory maritime policing to prevent Unprovoked acts of state-sponsored piracy
Shots catastrophic collisions and aggression that effectively nullified the
between blind commercial ships ceasefire agreement
and drifting mines
.
4. The Role of the Media and the Information Echo Chamber:
The reason the public and international bodies like NATO universally accepted the US narrative is rooted in a severe information asymmetry:
A. Simplifying Complex Logistics: Mainstream Western media heavily relied on political commentators and Washington think-tanks rather than naval logistics experts. It was far easier to broadcast a simple narrative—"Iran is bombing ships again"—than to explain the physics of underwater sonar, mine-sweeping protocols, and the geographical layout of the Musandam Peninsula.
B. Ignoring the Trigger: Media outlets widely omitted the timeline showing that the ceasefire was stable until the US unilaterally redirected the shipping lanes. By framing Iran's reactions out of context, the alternative route was presented as a response to Iranian aggression, rather than the mechanical trigger that caused it.
Ultimately, by ignoring the technical realities of the Strait, both sides defaulted back to military calculations. This operational deadlock culminated directly in President Trump declaring the MoU dead and authorizing the sweeping US CENTCOM airstrikes against Iranian infrastructure.
The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) collapsed due to an operational paradox in Article 5, which demanded simultaneous commercial shipping resumption and Iranian naval demining within a 30-day window [Islamabad Memorandum]. The crisis escalated when the U.S. and Oman bypassed the agreed-upon security protocols by establishing a secret, un-cleared "southern route" with ships turning off tracking systems [Al-Rekayya], prompting Iranian intervention [USS Abraham Lincoln]. While Western narratives focused on Iranian aggression, the mechanical failure was caused by these secret route changes and violations of the 30-day sovereign jurisdiction granted to Iran for demining [Islamabad Memorandum]. Analysis indicates that actions by Oman and Qatar in enabling these clandestine routes violated the treaty's mandate for coordinated management, effectively abandoning the agreed-upon demining process, according to analysis of the memorandum [Islamabad Memorandum].
Such a ridiculous commentary. It’s obvious to everyone watching this debacle of a war what is happening. This commentary is like pillow talk word salad.
It’s getting really dangerous to be friends with the USA. 😂😂
Sleep with the dog, get fleas!
Gulf States are all US vessel states , they are US colonies
Do people realize war brings nothing good to the world? I guess the rich don't care as long as they own everything.