Gulf States

Axis of the weak: Iran's proxy network has been severely damaged - opinion

Iran’s axis of proxies has taken a serious hit and has become an axis of the weak.

 DEMONSTRATORS HOLD a banner that reads: ‘Save the hostages, end the war,’ in Tel Aviv earlier this month. It’s against a relatively small organization – Hamas – that Israel is struggling, says the writer.
 Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attend a group photo session with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, May 14, 2025.

Gulf states seeking stability, hope US strikes on Iran will not spark wider conflict - analysis

 MEMBERS OF Iran’s Basij militia force attend an anti-Israel march in Tehran last week before Israel launched its attacks. It’s a quiet war of encirclement, exemplified by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s patience, theological certainty, and strategic depth, says the writer.

From the Basij to Balochistan: How Iran has encircled the Arab world - opinion

 A STATUE of George Washington is tied with a Palestinian flag and keffiyeh at George Washington University in Washington last year. The keffiyeh is consistently employed as a symbol of revolt, incitement, and terror, says the writer.

How the keffiyeh has been co-opted and weaponized - opinion


Understanding Pakistan’s risky alignment with Iran - opinion

Pakistan’s tilt toward Iran may carry significant costs. Washington has warned that countries doing business with Tehran could face secondary sanctions.

 PAKISTAN’S PRIME MINISTER Shehbaz Sharif meets with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran last month. They stressed the need for collective action against Israel’s actions in Gaza, says the writer.

Behind the Gulf’s condemnations: A strategic interest in Israel's strikes on Iran - opinion

Despite the public discourse, Israel's strikes on Iran align with the strategic interests of the Gulf states.

 US PRESIDENT Donald Trump stands with Omani Deputy Prime Minister Asa’ad bin Tariq at a GCC summit in Riyadh last month. With a real possibility that the US will join Israel’s campaign against Iran, Gulf states have an opportunity to reshape the region, says the writer.

Public condemnation, private interest: Arab world response to Israel's Iran strikes - opinion

Almost all Arab states that have signed peace or normalization agreements with Israel issued statements of condemnation against the attack.

 IRAN’S PRESIDENT Masoud Pezeshkian meets with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman in Tehran in April. Most Arab rulers oppose Iran’s turning into a nuclear power, the writer states.

Trump lays out new Middle East vision, from ceasefires to regional partners - analysis

President Trump’s evolving Middle East policy, highlighting a strategic shift from traditional Western intervention toward fostering regional partnerships, diplomacy, and sustainable peace.

US President Donald Trump walks near a drone and a U.S. flag, for an address to troops, during a visit to Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, May 15, 2025.

Senate Democrats warn against AI chip deals with Gulf states

The appeal comes after President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Gulf, during which he announced plans for American companies to supply tens of thousands of high-end AI chips to the region.

 US President Donald Trump gestures, while he boards Air Force One, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025.

Israel is at risk of being outbid in Trump’s Middle East marketplace - analysis

Israel must rethink asserting its value to Washington: not through nostalgia or goodwill, but through enhanced defense and intelligence cooperation that benefits the US economy.

 US PRESIDENT Donald Trump looks on as he makes remarks outside the West Wing of the White House last week. His recent moves in the Middle East are raising serious questions about his priorities when it comes to Israel, says the writer.

Trump, not Arab leaders, pulling the strings in Saudi visit, expert says

“Gulf states receive protection from the US. There are American bases, mainly in Qatar, and the Americans protect the Gulf states from Iran. So, the boss is Trump.”

 (L-R) Donald Trump, Ahmed al Sharaa, Mohammed bin Salman, and Mahmoud Abbas.

Trump heads to Middle East amid Iran nuclear standoff and Gulf investment drive

Gulf officials have pressed the admin to ease export controls on advanced semiconductor chips and AI tech to accelerate high‑tech goals.

 Trump administration dismisses nearly 400 scientists working on national climate assessment.

Why Trump’s Saudi trip matters for the Trump doctrine - analysis

Gulf countries trust the US administration under US President Donald Trump a bit more than what they saw under Biden and Obama.

US President Donald Trump gestures, before boarding Air Force One as he departs for Florida, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, March 28, 2025

Lessons for today: how the Gulf War shaped Israel's defense strategy – analysis

How the 1991 Gulf War reshaped Israel’s defense strategy and the Middle East’s modern military landscape.

 US soldiers celebrate Purim and the end of the Gulf War on the streets of Tel Aviv as children spray snow foam and Israelis play music. February 1991.

Qatar to vote on cancelling elections ‘in name of democracy and social cohesion’

Qatar votes on a referendum to cancel elections, ending Shura Council voting rights.

 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Doha, Qatar, October 24, 2024.