Donald Trump's recent meeting, the President of the United States, with leaders and foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York was held to discuss the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and regional conflicts. Despite public statements about constructive negotiations, the meeting failed to lead to the resolution of structural challenges, and no clear agreement was reached.
Challenges and Demands of the Parties
According to unofficial reports, the demands of the United States focused on sharing and increased participation in costs, full political and security alignment on the Iran issue, and strengthening the normalization process of relations with Israel. In contrast, Arab countries sought to enhance their armaments, pay attention to the Yemen crisis, and ensure the security of waterways while also wanting to maintain political pressure on Iran without entering into military conflict. This indicates an increase in disagreements among the parties.
An examination of the declared and actual positions of the Gulf Arab countries indicates that they are caught in a strategic uncertainty. These countries are seeking diplomacy alongside effective deterrence. The prevailing approach of Arab countries regarding the containment of Iran is to continue political and economic pressure with the help of the United States; they believe this approach can establish a military and security balance.
Concerns and Diverse Approaches
According to published reports, Arab countries are consulting with the Trump administration to ensure that sanctions and the maritime blockade on Iran are maintained and that the United States does not offer any concessions that would lead to a reduction of these pressures. The ultimate goal of this approach is to prevent the rise of Iran's power in regional equations. At the same time, the internal rift among Arab countries in this regard is also evident; Saudi Arabia and the UAE have taken a tougher stance against a comprehensive agreement between Iran and the U.S., while Qatar and Oman emphasize diplomacy and de-escalation.
Despite the desire to continue pressure on Iran, Arab countries have serious concerns about direct military involvement by the United States and the escalation of war. These concerns have arisen due to Iran's military power and its ability to target critical infrastructure in the region. Recent experiences, including attacks on Aramco facilities in 2019, have deepened these concerns.
Ultimately, Gulf Arab countries are reluctant to share financial costs and engage in overt military participation with the United States. This distrust is rooted in their historical experiences and defensive weaknesses. These countries are well aware that if they participate overtly, Iran will consider them as partners in aggression, which may lead to attacks on their economic and oil infrastructure.
As a result, Arab countries prefer to keep diplomacy alive and avoid becoming a human shield or a target for retaliation. This approach seeks to create a balance among regional powers in which neither an excessive strengthening of Iran nor its complete weakening is desirable.
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