Jordan and Oman are employing energy and diplomatic strategies to maintain relationships with both Washington and Tehran, highlighting the complex geopolitical positioning of smaller Gulf states caught between competing regional powers.
Iran has threatened to strike Gulf energy infrastructure if the US launches new attacks on its territory, even as Washington prepares to announce a temporary agreement with Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following Trump's ultimatum that Iran would be 'hit very hard' if the waterway remains closed.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a US special operations command center at al-Tanf in Syria on July 17, 2026, the first time Iran has attacked Syrian territory since the war began. The strike, framed as retaliation for the killing of seven Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr, marked the 11th wave of Operation Nasr-2. The US simultaneously launched its sixth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting bridges, airports, and ports, while enforcing a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States launched multiple waves of strikes on Iran following Tehran's attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that left one crew member missing. Iran's Revolutionary Guard declared the strait closed and retaliated by targeting U.S. military bases and Gulf states, escalating a dangerous standoff over the vital waterway.
Unclaimed airstrikes struck multiple sites in Iran after the United States concluded its attacks, raising questions about possible Gulf state involvement. Separately, the US is demanding Iran publicly declare the Strait of Hormuz open and commit to not attacking ships in the vital waterway.
Gulf states are adapting to a shifting regional landscape following a US-Iranian memorandum of understanding, while expressing concern over funding Iran's $300 billion reconstruction and Israel's significant territorial expansion into Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria since 2023.
The United States plans to make Iranian assets available to compensate Gulf allies for damage caused by Iranian attacks, following an assessment by US Treasury Secretary Bessent's team of the costs inflicted by Iran on regional partners.
President Trump announced he has put a planned military strike on Iran 'on hold' following requests from Gulf allies. The decision comes amid heightened regional tensions after the death of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Israel having killed 3,000 in Lebanon since March.
Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states reportedly restricted US military access to their airspace and bases, forcing Trump to pause the Strait of Hormuz escort operation. The move reflects Gulf frustration with US military actions in the region.
