Some Gulf countries are reported to be secretly pushing the U.S. to initiate a ground war

According to a U.S. report from the 30th, some Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, hope the United States will continue its war against Iran. Among them, the UAE is “actively pushing” for U.S. forces to launch a ground war, and Kuwait and Bahrain also support that stance. Anonymous officials from the United States, the Gulf states, and Israel said that early in the war, the region’s U.S. allies had privately complained that before the U.S. and Israel carried out attacks, they had not been given sufficient prior notice. But now, some Gulf countries believe they are facing a “historic opportunity” to substantially weaken Iran’s capabilities. “Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain say privately that unless there is a major change in Iran’s leadership or Iran’s behavior undergoes a dramatic shift, they do not want U.S.-Israeli military action to end.”

It is reported that the Gulf states now “broadly support” U.S. military actions, but there are also differences among them. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are leading the call to increase military pressure on Iran. “The UAE may have already become the most hawkish country among the Gulf states and is actively pushing for U.S. President Donald Trump to order a ground invasion. Kuwait and Bahrain also support this option.” “Meanwhile, Oman and Qatar tend to favor a diplomatic solution.”

A Gulf diplomat said that Saudi Arabia has told the United States that ending the war now cannot produce a “good agreement” that would guarantee the security of Iran’s neighbors. Another Saudi official said that Saudi Arabia ultimately wants to see a political solution to the crisis, but for now the focus remains on protecting its own people and critical infrastructure. At present, the governments of the countries mentioned above have not responded to the reports. (CGTN News)