Arab states condemn Israeli strikes as relations with Iran thaw - analysis
Arab states that once opposed Iran now condemn Israel’s June 13 strikes, reflecting shifting alliances and fears of regional escalation.
A decade ago, Saudi Arabia was one of the foremost critics of the Iranian regime, making its concerns known about Iran’s aggressive intentions in the region and also its nuclear program. However, when Israel carried out airstrikes on Iran on Friday, launching a potentially devastating war that could affect Tehran’s role in the region for years to come, Arab states condemned the strikes. What has changed?
Back in 2015, Saudi Arabia was fighting in Yemen and confronting the Iranian-backed Houthis. In July 2015, Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir denounced “aggressive statements” by Tehran. “This does not represent the intentions of a country seeking good relations,” he said.
It wasn’t just Riyadh that had an issue with Iran. Tehran was also at loggerheads with Bahrain and other countries. Iran had bashed Bahrain for “unfounded allegations” and creating “tension in the region.” Jubeir said Iran was escalating tensions via its comments.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE also embraced the first Trump administration’s policies in the region. This included the US leaving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The Emirates and Bahrain joined the Abraham Accords in 2002. The Saudis also led them to break ties with Qatar in 2018.
Saudi Arabia was the first country to condemn Israel’s attacks
All that has changed now. Riyadh had more amicable relations with Iran, in part due to China brokering a deal between the two countries in 2023. In addition, Iran has patched up ties with other Gulf countries, and the Gulf nations have also improved their own internal relations. Qatar now gets along with Riyadh. In addition, Iran has done outreach to Egypt.Saudi Arabia was the first country to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran on Friday, according to Arab News. The kingdom “expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
Qatar and the UAE joined in the long list of countries slamming the attacks. “The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli aggression that targeted the territory of the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran,” a Qatar Foreign Ministry statement said.
Abu Dhabi also condemned the attacks, as did Egypt. Cairo said it feared the “unprecedented repercussions on the security and the stability of the Middle East,” noting that “these attacks represent a blatant and extremely dangerous regional escalation, a flagrant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, and a direct threat to regional and international peace and security.”
MEANWHILE, IRAN has done outreach to countries in the region. Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The reasons countries are condemning the strikes vary. Iran does not have any real allies in the region. Its largest ally, Syria’s Assad regime, was overthrown in December 2024. Iran has militia partners in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. These include terrorist groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq. As such, Tehran has a major influence over these countries, but it is not a positive one.
In other places, Iran has historic tensions. For instance, it has often threatened Bahrain, and has not historically had good ties with the Saudis. Countries such as the UAE likely see Iran as a potentially destabilizing actor. For instance, it has mined and attacked ships off the coast of the Emirates.
Iran and Oman generally have good ties. Tehran also has positive and close ties with Qatar. Kuwait, having learned from its experience in the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq war when it was close to Iraq, has become more neutral and is scared of Iran.
Iraq’s government is an ally of the Islamic Republic. However, the Kurdistan autonomous region in northern Iraq often tries to publicly appear to have decent ties with Iran while actually opposing its actions in the region. This is because Shi’ite militias in Iraq have often threatened the Kurdistan region.
In Beirut, the leaders are worried that the current clash between Israel and Iran could spill over to Lebanon. The country is already reeling from the war in 2024, where Israel defeated Hezbollah. A new government there is trying to crack down on Hezbollah’s illegal weapon depots.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun chaired a security meeting Saturday at Baabda Palace to discuss the security developments resulting from the military confrontations between Iran and Israel, Lebanon’s Al-Akhbar media said.
During the meeting, Aoun stressed “the importance of security and administrative readiness to monitor the situation from all aspects, particularly with regard to maintaining stability and security,” the report said. He also discussed the issue of Beirut International Airport and resuming flights there after they were canceled on Friday and Saturday.
