What Do the Gulf States Really Want?

In this Gatestone Institute article, Ahmed Charai argues that Gulf states can no longer avoid choosing between strategic ambiguity toward Iran and a public commitment to a new regional order built around the Abraham Accords.

• Charai says the real confrontation in the region is not with the Iranian people, but with Iran’s ruling regime, including the Revolutionary Guards, militias, hostage diplomacy, ballistic missiles, nuclear ambitions, and destabilization of Arab states.
• The article argues that Gulf governments have long tried to manage Iran while also relying on Washington and sometimes Israel to contain Iran’s threat.
• Charai says Israel is no longer treated across the region as isolated, but increasingly as a military, intelligence, technological, economic, and strategic reality.
• Oman is presented as a cautious mediator that maintains ties with Iran while also recognizing Israel’s regional weight, but Charai argues mediation must not replace strategic judgment.
• Qatar is described as influential and useful because of its wealth, media power, U.S. military ties, and ability to talk to difficult actors, but the article questions whether it will move from tactical usefulness to regional responsibility.
• Saudi Arabia is portrayed as the most consequential case because Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pushed modernization and had signaled openness to normalization with Israel, even as Riyadh restored relations with Tehran.
• Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates are praised for joining the Abraham Accords and publicly defining their strategic orientation despite Iranian pressure.
• The article presents the Abraham Accords as more than diplomatic agreements, framing them as a development-centered alternative to ideology, grievance, militias, and endless confrontation.
• Charai credits Jared Kushner for helping connect security, economics, technology, legitimacy, and the aspirations of younger generations into the Abraham Accords framework.
• The central argument is that Gulf states must decide whether the Abraham Accords will remain a diplomatic trophy or become the foundation of a new regional order.

Read the full story: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22573/what-do-gulf-states-want