Tehran has issued a warning to Gulf states, declaring that any use of their airspace by Israel for military strikes against Iran would be considered an act of war, a senior Iranian official said Tuesday. The warning comes as Iran braces for a potential Israeli retaliation following a missile barrage Tehran launched at Israel last week.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations, seeking to rally support against possible Israeli actions. According to sources, during the Gulf-Iran meeting, Iran emphasized its intention to closely monitor the reactions of each Gulf country in the event of an Israeli attack, as well as the use of United States (U.S.) bases located in those countries. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia all host U.S. military facilities or troops.
#Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and #SaudiArabia Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan met in Riyadh. pic.twitter.com/2q5MYF00XV
— Iran Nuances (@IranNuances) October 9, 2024
Gulf states reportedly reassured Iran of their neutrality, but concerns remain about the potential fallout of an Israeli strike, particularly on Iran’s oil infrastructure, and its implications for the broader region.
Three Gulf sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have been lobbying Washington to prevent Israel from targeting Iran’s oil facilities. A full-scale conflict between Israel and Iran could disrupt global oil supplies and destabilize the global economy, according to experts.
Last week, Israel vowed to retaliate for the Iranian missile attack, which included 200 ballistic missiles, many of which were intercepted. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a “big mistake” and promised that Iran “will pay for it.” Israeli military officials are reportedly planning a significant response, focusing on military bases and leadership sites in Iran, though there is no indication they will target Iran’s nuclear facilities unless the conflict escalates.
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