Reuters: Gulf Arab States Remain Neutral in Iran-Israel Dispute

On Thursday, October 4, Reuters reported, citing 'two sources', that Gulf Arab states are remaining neutral in the dispute between the Islamic Republic and Israel. The news agency wrote that these countries decided to stay neutral during recent meetings in Doha, the capital of Qatar, with the reason being 'to prevent the escalation of tensions in the region and concerns about the implications for oil facilities.' One source told Reuters that 'immediate de-escalation' was at the top of the agenda for all discussions in Doha. According to the report, in recent months, as tensions have flared in the region, the Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait, has called for 'de-escalation' from the Islamic Republic. On Tuesday, October 1, the Islamic Republic carried out its largest attack on Israel by launching about 180 missiles, claiming it was retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah, senior leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, by Israel and its operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Israel has not yet claimed responsibility for the death of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The American website Axios reported on Wednesday, October 2, citing Israeli officials, that Israel could target oil production facilities inside Iran in retaliation. Iran has not threatened to attack Gulf oil facilities but has warned that if 'Israel's supporters' directly intervene, their interests in the region will be targeted. According to Reuters, although Saudi Arabia, a major oil exporter in the region, has sought closer political ties with the Islamic Republic in recent years, relations between the two countries still face obstacles. An assessment by a researcher from the Wisconsin Project on the Islamic Republic's ballistic missile capabilities stated that Khamenei, disregarding global criticism, called the Islamic Republic's missile attacks on Israel 'legitimate.' The head of the Iran section in the European Parliament stated that the Iranian government is a source of tension and violence in the region. The G7 issued a statement condemning the IRGC's missile attack on Israel and warning about the uncontrollable escalation of conflicts.