“The response to every shot and aggression will be a barrage of missiles and drones history will not turn back, and the aggressor will be swiftly punished,” he vowed.
But Iran’s attack on Gulf nations could “backfire,” experts argue. It may “push Gulf states into closer partnership with the United States, in outrage at seeing their own territory hit,” says Benaim.
Amid the renewed instability, the United Arab Emirates urged Gulf nations to present a united front.
“There must be a firm, unified, and cohesive Gulf stance. For no Gulf state should be left to face targeting alone, as the security of the Arab Gulf states is interconnected, their interests are shared, and their fate is one,” said Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president.
Unity between the Gulf states would help in sending a clear message to Washington and Tehran, but internal political division may complicate matters, says Benaim, adding that there are “a spectrum of views about Iran among the Gulf states.”
Read the full article here
