Gulf states demand US not stop war against Iran

Gulf Arab states did not ask the US to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic ​Republic, Reuters writes, citing sources.

“There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center and familiar with government thinking.

“At first we defended them and opposed the war, but once they began directing strikes at us, they became an enemy. There is no other way to classify them.”

At the same time, five Western and Arab diplomats said Washington ‌ was pressing Gulf states to join the US-Israeli war. According to three of them, President Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign, to bolster its international legitimacy as well as support at home.