why Mideast Gulf Arab states lobbied to prevent a US strike on Iran

Описание: Intense diplomatic engagement by Mideast Gulf Arab states reportedly played a material role in convincing the U.S. administration not to proceed with direct military strikes against Iran, despite recent unrest and protest-related fatalities in Tehran.

According to regional media reports, several Gulf capitals warned President Trump of the potentially catastrophic consequences of a military confrontation, not only for regional stability, but also for global energy security.

Beyond geopolitics, this was about energy security
There are multiple geopolitical and strategic reasons why U.S. strikes on Iran carry high risks for the region: the danger of conflict spillover into neighbouring territories, domestic political destabilisation, and the economic shock such escalation could trigger at a time when Gulf states are investing heavily in long-term transformation agendas such as Saudi Vision 2030.

Over the longer term, a more open, unsanctioned Iran would likely re-emerge as a serious competitor for Arab stades in terms of capital flows, tourism, and regional influence.

But for energy markets, the message from Gulf capitals was more immediate: protect the uninterrupted flow of hydrocarbons through the Mideast Gulf. Energy security considerations were front and centre.

Strait of Hormuz: the region’s strategic vulnerability
Mideast Gulf Arab producers remain uniquely exposed to disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which roughly 15 mbd of seaborne crude and around 20% of global LNG volumes transit daily.

Officials reportedly feared that U.S. strikes on Iranian targets could have triggered Iranian retaliation against Gulf oil and gas infrastructure including offshore platforms, processing facilities and export terminals. This is likely why Riyadh and Doha reportedly insisted they would not allow U.S. fighter jets to use their airspace.

Beyond direct strikes on infrastructure, other potential retaliatory pathways include: harassment or temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz and escalation around alternative maritime chokepoints, notably the Bab el-Mandeb, threatening Red Sea trade routes and tanker flows.