American soldiers stand atop a military tank on display at the World Defense Expo in Riyadh. (AP photo)
As the war enters its 25th day of tensions in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly taken tentative steps that could bring them closer to the Iranian conflict, signaling a potential escalation in the region.According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia has agreed to give the US military access to King Fahd Air Base — a notable shift after previously saying its territory would not be used to launch strikes against Iran.
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The report also said the UAE moved against assets linked to Iran, closing an Iranian-owned hospital and club, a move seen as limiting support networks linked to Tehran.Separately, videos cited by the newspaper appear to show missiles used in attacks on Iran being launched from Bahrain, suggesting a broader regional footprint in the conflict.
But the US Army refused to comment on whether it was receiving assistance from regional partners.Markets reacted quickly, with crude oil prices rising slightly while US stock index futures gave up previous gains.The moves of Washington’s allies in the Gulf indicate growing frustration with Iran, which has responded to US and Israeli strikes by targeting sites in neighboring countries. The recent Israeli attack on an Iranian gas field has sparked counterattacks by Tehran on energy infrastructure across the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump has since rebuked Israel, which later said it would avoid targeting energy facilities. Trump also indicated that he would postpone striking Iran’s energy sector for five days, citing “key points of agreement” with Tehran.Amid the tensions, Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff was holding talks with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Ghalibaf denied holding any negotiations, while Iranian official media said that Washington had tried to communicate indirectly in recent days but had not received any response from Tehran.