Gulf States Want Iran 'Defanged' By US After Relentless Strikes, Hormuz Blockade. Here's Why

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 17:49 IST

All six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council have so far refrained from striking back openly, limiting themselves to self-defense.

Battered by relentless Iranian strikes and the disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates and fellow Gulf states have come to view Iran’s theocracy as an existential enemy and now want the regime they once courted neutered, if not dismantled, when the conflict ends.

The UAE has borne the brunt of the Iranian campaign. Since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, more than 2,000 drones and missiles have been fired at the country. Over 80% were aimed at civilian infrastructure- oil facilities, refineries, airports, ports, hotels and data centers- killing six civilians and injuring 157 others, according to the UAE government.

“This is not a military exchange. This is an attack on a peaceful nation, a nation that has been working diligently and very hard for diplomacy," said Sultan al-Jaber, the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and CEO of oil giant ADNOC, in an interview.

All six states in the Gulf Cooperation Council have so far refrained from striking back openly, limiting themselves to self-defense. But patience is wearing thin.

“Any long-term political settlement must address the full spectrum of threats, including Iran’s nuclear program, ballistic missile capabilities, and their network of regional proxies," al-Jaber added.

Iranian officials have also insisted they only target US bases and interests in the region- a claim that has infuriated Gulf nations.

“Let me make it very clear. Since the Iranian attacks have started on Qatar, the threats and attacks on civilian targets have not stopped," said Majed al-Ansari, an adviser to Qatar’s prime minister. Iranian attacks caused civilian casualties across all six Gulf states, a toll that would have been far steeper without sophisticated US-made air defense systems.

Given the indiscriminate nature of the Iranian barrages, one senior Gulf official told Wall Street Journal that the only acceptable outcome would be an Iran so defanged and enfeebled it could never again imperil its neighbors.

The disruption of the Strait of Hormuz- through which 35% of global crude oil and 20% of global liquefied natural gas once passed- has drawn condemnation far beyond the region.

“By taking Hormuz hostage, Iran is committing global economic warfare," al-Jaber said, adding, “This is a global economic issue. It is not a regional problem. The disruption is going to increase inflation, it will slow economies, it will affect everyday lives. Families will end up paying more for food."

Muhanad Seloom, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said, “The Iranian regime has crossed every red line. Now it is in everyone’s interest, and this includes the Gulf countries, to have the US finish the job. Imagine if the war stops now and Iran declares victory? Iran would hold the whole region hostage because that taboo has been broken, and hitting them worked."

News world Gulf States Want Iran 'Defanged' By US After Relentless Strikes, Hormuz Blockade. Here's Why

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