Iran & the GCC: A Trust That Cannot Be Rebuilt Overnight

For years, Gulf states did everything right. Qatar hosted nuclear talks. Oman ran back-channel diplomacy. Saudi Arabia maintained direct dialogue with Tehran well into 2025. The GCC collectively refused to allow its airspace or territory to be used for any military action against Iran, even as tensions escalated. Iran attacked them anyway.


For the first time in history, a single actor simultaneously launched ballistic missiles and drones against all six GCC member states. 83% of Iranian strikes were aimed at the GCC, not at Israel. States that stayed neutral, that actively pursued diplomacy, and that protected Iranian interests at their own political cost were rewarded with missiles.

Gulf states are now united in their anger at Tehran for attacking them despite their refusal to facilitate or support the US campaign.

The path to Iran-GCC normalization hasn't closed. But it has fundamentally changed. Any future engagement must be built on verified action, not diplomatic goodwill that is met with drone strikes.

Neutrality is not a shield. The Gulf learned that the hard way.

#GCC #Iran #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #RegionalSecurity #Gulf

By: ๐“ข๐“ช๐“ท๐“ณ๐“ฎ๐“ฎ๐“ฟ๐“ฎ ๐“ข๐“ฃ

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