Luxury and security crumble under Iranian strikes in the Gulf
The Gulf’s shimmering skylines and manicured suburbs, once symbols of stability and prosperity, are now punctuated by the ominous trails of incoming missiles. In Abu Dhabi, contrails etched across the sky are not the markings of commercial jets but the paths of Iranian ballistic weapons intercepted mid-flight. According to the United Arab Emirates’ defence ministry, by Sunday afternoon its forces had neutralized 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones launched from across the Gulf.
In Bahrain, the violence has been equally unsettling. Residents described a night of relentless explosions. “Woken by huge bangs and wailing siren,” one man texted, adding, “I think maybe around 20 booms and bangs. At least two hits.” Airports, shopping malls, and luxury hotels, once unimaginable targets, have now joined military installations on Iran’s expanding strike list.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, rejected accusations of deliberate attacks on Gulf neighbours, insisting to Al Jazeera: “We are not attacking our neighbours in the Persian Gulf countries, we are targeting the presence of the US in these countries. Neighbours should direct their grievances to the decision-makers of this war.” Yet the repeated strikes on airports and civilian infrastructure suggest otherwise, leaving Gulf monarchies questioning Tehran’s intentions and their own vulnerability.
The Gulf states have long walked a delicate line, hosting U.S. military forces while attempting to avoid direct confrontation with Iran. But the current escalation has shattered that balance. Saudi Arabia condemned the strikes on Riyadh and its Eastern Province, declaring: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its rejection and condemnation in the strongest terms of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks… These attacks cannot be justified under any pretext.”
Oman, traditionally a mediator between Tehran and Washington, was not spared either. Its port of Duqm suffered a drone strike, underscoring that even states with cordial ties to Iran are not immune.
This is not Iran’s first show of force in the Gulf. In 2019, drones crippled Saudi Aramco’s facilities, and last year ballistic missiles targeted Qatar’s al-Udaid airbase. But the current campaign is unprecedented in scale and scope, striking at the very heart of Gulf civilian life.
For Tehran, the strikes serve both as retaliation and as a reminder of its capacity to disrupt. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps faces a strategic dilemma: whether to escalate further by targeting U.S. warships or conserve its arsenal to prolong the confrontation. Iran’s calculus is shaped by its limited resources, its missile and drone stockpile versus the finite air defence systems of its adversaries.
The United States and Israel, meanwhile, maintain overwhelming military superiority. Two U.S. carrier strike groups, supported by advanced Israeli air power, dominate the skies. Yet Iran’s endurance, rooted in its revolutionary ideology and willingness to absorb pain, poses a different kind of challenge. As one analyst noted, survival itself could allow Tehran to claim victory.
The prospect of renewed negotiations remains uncertain. Washington’s demands, curbs on Iran’s nuclear program, an end to its ballistic missile development, and a halt to support for regional militias were already contentious before the current escalation. Oman has hinted at progress in Geneva talks, but Iran’s refusal to discuss missiles and proxies prompted President Trump to declare he was “not happy with the way the talks are going.”
Whether back-channel diplomacy can produce a ceasefire is unclear. If bargaining positions remain rigid, military confrontation may resume with even greater intensity. For Gulf states, the immediate reality is stark: their partnership with Washington has made them targets, and their future relationship with Tehran may be irreparably damaged.
Source: BBC
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