Countries across the Gulf find themselves in an increasingly uncomfortable position as the US-Israel war against Iran generates consequences they have limited power to control. The Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation against regional energy infrastructure hit Gulf states with an economic shockwave — rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains, and heightened security concerns. Their response was to appeal directly to Washington for greater restraint, placing them in the position of lobbying the senior partner in the alliance to rein in the junior one.
The appeal reflected a structural reality of the conflict: Gulf states have significant economic and security stakes in regional stability but limited influence over the military decisions of either the United States or Israel. When Israel strikes a target that provokes Iranian retaliation across the region, the consequences fall on countries that had no input into the original decision. That asymmetry has been a source of quiet frustration throughout the conflict — and the South Pars episode brought it into the open.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged the tension, saying publicly that he had warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against the gas field strike. His willingness to say so was partly a response to Gulf pressure — a signal that Washington had not endorsed the escalation. Netanyahu confirmed acting alone, agreed to pause further attacks on the gas field, and offered reassurances about the strength of the alliance.
But reassurances do not change energy prices or repair damaged infrastructure. The Gulf states are watching a conflict that affects them deeply but in which they have limited say. Their ability to influence US strategy depends on Washington’s willingness to listen — and Washington’s ability to influence Israeli strategy depends on the leverage it has over Netanyahu, which has clear limits as the South Pars episode demonstrated.
The underlying tension between Trump’s limited objectives and Netanyahu’s expansive goals creates ongoing risk for the region. As long as Israel pursues a broader campaign than Washington has authorized, and as long as Iran retaliates against regional targets in response, Gulf states will continue to bear costs for decisions they did not make. The appeal to Trump to restrain Netanyahu is likely to continue — and to meet with only partial success.
