Washington: Gulf allies of the United States, led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, are pressing President Donald Trump to maintain and expand the military campaign against Iran, arguing that Tehran has not yet been sufficiently weakened by the month-long US-led bombardment, according to US, Gulf, and Israeli officials.

Initially, several regional partners expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of prior warning regarding the US-Israeli offensive. They also criticised the US for disregarding their cautions that the conflict could have catastrophic consequences for the wider Middle East. Now, some of these allies are privately urging the White House to view the conflict as a historic opportunity to significantly undermine Iran’s clerical leadership.

Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain have communicated in confidential discussions that they do not wish for military operations to conclude until either major changes occur within Iran’s leadership or the country dramatically alters its behaviour, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump balances escalation and diplomacy

The push from Gulf nations comes as President Trump oscillates between asserting that Iran’s leadership is ready to negotiate and threatening to escalate military action if a settlement is not reached soon.

Meanwhile, Trump is facing challenges in rallying domestic support for a war that has already caused over 3,000 deaths across the Middle East and disrupted the global economy. Yet, he has sounded increasingly confident in the backing of his key Middle Eastern allies, including those who were initially hesitant about a new military campaign.

“Saudi Arabia’s fighting back hard. Qatar is fighting back. UAE is fighting back. Kuwait and Bahrain are fighting back,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening as he returned to Washington from Florida. “They’re all fighting back.”

While these Gulf countries host US military bases from which strikes have been launched, they have not directly participated in offensive operations.

Divisions among Gulf states

Although regional leaders largely support US efforts, divisions remain. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been the most vocal in advocating for increased military pressure on Tehran.

The UAE, which has endured over 2,300 missile and drone attacks from Iran, has become increasingly frustrated as the conflict continues. Emirati officials are urging Trump to consider a ground invasion, a stance also favoured by Kuwait and Bahrain. They view continued Iranian aggression as a threat to the UAE’s reputation as a secure, prosperous hub for trade and tourism.

By contrast, Oman and Qatar, traditionally mediators between Iran and the West, have consistently advocated for a diplomatic resolution.

Saudi Arabia’s strategic calculations

Saudi Arabia has argued that ending the conflict now would not secure a favourable outcome or guarantee safety for its Arab neighbours. The kingdom insists that a settlement must neutralise Iran’s nuclear programme, dismantle its ballistic missile capabilities, halt Tehran’s support for proxy groups, and prevent future blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 per cent of global oil previously passed.

Achieving these objectives would require either a profound change within Iran’s ruling theocracy, in place since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, or its removal.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, has told White House officials that further weakening Iran’s military and clerical leadership aligns with long-term Gulf interests. At the same time, the kingdom remains acutely aware that a prolonged conflict gives Iran more opportunities to strike its vital energy infrastructure.

A Saudi official emphasised that while the ultimate aim is a political solution, the immediate priority is safeguarding citizens and critical installations.

UAE demands strong guarantees

Senior Emirati officials have intensified their rhetoric against Tehran. “An Iranian regime that launches ballistic missiles at homes, weaponises global trade, and supports proxies is no longer an acceptable feature of the regional landscape,” wrote Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the UAE Foreign Ministry, in a column published on Monday in the state-linked English-language newspaper The National. She added: “We want a guarantee that this will never happen again.”

US and Gulf alignment

The White House declined to comment on its discussions with Gulf partners. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted on Monday that the United States and its Gulf allies remain closely aligned on Iran.

“They are religious zealots who can never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon because they have an apocalyptic vision of the future,” Rubio said during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America.

“And all of their neighbours know that, which is why the region has supported the efforts we are conducting.”

Gulf support amid ongoing conflict

Trump has sought to underscore the unity of Gulf countries as the war has unfolded, praising Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE for their “bravery.” He specifically commended the Saudi crown prince, calling him a “warrior” and “a fantastic man,” during an event in Miami sponsored by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Trump also acknowledged the initial reluctance of Gulf states regarding the US-Israeli offensive. “They weren’t expecting this to happen, nobody was,” he said. “And they turned against them and really became very powerfully aligned. They were with us, but not very obviously at first. Now they are with US”

Complications of direct Gulf involvement

Trump has not called on Gulf nations to conduct offensive operations. One reason may be the challenges of coordinating multiple militaries in an already crowded operational theatre.

Early in the conflict, three US fighter jets were accidentally downed by Kuwaiti fire during an Iranian air assault, though all six crew members ejected safely. Additionally, six American service members died on 12 March when a KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq.

Diplomatic relations with Israel add another layer of complexity. Only the UAE and Bahrain maintain formal ties, making coordinated military operations more sensitive.

Yasmine Farouk, Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project director at the International Crisis Group, noted that “the absence of a clear objective and trust that the United States will see the operation through makes some Gulf nations hesitant. But if a mass casualty event occurs in one of these countries, it would justify a more belligerent stance.”

Tehran’s warnings

Iran has warned that it would target critical infrastructure in neighbouring countries, including desalination plants, if Trump follows through on threats to strike Iranian power stations should the Strait of Hormuz remain closed by 6 April.

AP inputs