The UAE and Saudi Arabia are edging toward joining the war against Iran, driven by ongoing Iranian strikes against them, according to a report published Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal. Beyond the physical damage, the attacks have caused dramatic economic disruption in both countries and created the risk of long-term Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The willingness to enter the conflict comes against the backdrop of threats by US President Donald Trump to strike Iran's energy infrastructure and economic assets. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have not yet openly deployed forces, but pressure on both is mounting as Tehran threatens to expand its influence across the Gulf.
The Saudi "don't" is off the table
Saudi Arabia recently agreed to allow US forces to use King Fahd Air Base in the western Arabian Peninsula – a significant shift. Before the war broke out, Riyadh had declared it would not permit the use of its facilities or airspace for strikes on Iran, hoping that restraint would shield it from retaliation. That calculation failed when Iran launched missiles and drones at strategic energy sites inside the kingdom.
Sources who spoke with the newspaper said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is intent on restoring Saudi deterrence and is close to a decision to join the strikes on Iran. "It's only a matter of time before the kingdom enters the war," one of them said. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan made the position clear last week, saying, "Saudi Arabia's patience with Iranian attacks is not unlimited. Any assumption that Gulf states are incapable of responding is a miscalculation."
The UAE is no longer willing to be Tehran's banker
At the same time, the UAE has begun moving against Iranian-owned assets – a move that threatens a vital financial lifeline for the Tehran regime. The UAE government stated that "certain institutions directly linked to the Iranian regime and the IRGC will be shut down as part of targeted measures, after it was determined that they were used to advance agendas that do not serve the Iranian people and violate the country's laws."
These steps could significantly curtail Tehran's access to foreign currency and global trade networks at a moment when its economy is buckling under inflation and sanctions. The UAE, which for years served as a financial hub for Iranian businesses, has warned that it has the ability to freeze Iranian assets worth billions of dollars.
Arab sources noted that Gulf leaders are pressing President Trump in regular phone calls to "finish the job" and destroy Iran's military capabilities. The greatest fear in the Gulf is a scenario in which Trump suddenly declares the war over and leaves them to face a hostile and wounded Iran alone.
