Trump faces growing backlash in Middle East over his Iran policy, WP says
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Frustration with Washington grows among US allies in the Persian Gulf. The countries are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump is unable to deliver on diplomatic efforts to achieve peace with Iran, The Washington Post reports.
The outlet notes that in recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran, only to later walk back those threats, citing progress in negotiations.
According to sources, after months of conflict and continued attacks by Iran and its proxies, the governments of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain are now united in their dissatisfaction with the Trump administration.
Some have begun discussing whether it makes sense to continue hosting major US military facilities on their territory.
"Trump started this war, and we are paying the price," one Gulf official said, adding that anger toward the United States had reached a peak.
Gulf countries continue to rely on Washington as a close security partner and major arms supplier. Qatar and Bahrain also host major US military bases. However, the growing dissatisfaction is prompting some states to consider new options.
A senior European official notes that the mutual defense agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan last week was "a signal to the United States."
"The pact shows the three powerful Sunni Muslim states are trying to diversify their security and defense partnerships. In their mind, the US is not enough," said the official, who regularly communicates with Gulf leaders.
At the same time, a White House official told the outlet that Trump "has extraordinary relationships with all of [US's – ed.] Gulf partners."
"The United States has been in regular contact with all of our regional allies since before Operation Epic Fury. Iran is more isolated than ever before as a result of its terrorist actions," the official said.
Other important information
Notably, US President Donald Trump said days ago that Washington has at least two plans regarding Iran—either wait for the country's economy to collapse or launch another large-scale attack.
Trump also said he plans to announce soon that the Strait of Hormuz is US territory. However, Iran mocked Trump's remarks today, stressing that a waterway cannot be seized with a social media post.
