Several Arab states in the Persian Gulf have lobbied the US to restrain Israel from striking Iranian oil facilities, fearing that Tehran could take revenge by hitting their production and disrupting global markets, according to Reuters.
Iran struck Israel with a barrage of missiles on October 1, calling it a response for the killing of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Israel has vowed a “strong response” after coordinating with the US.
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Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have reportedly told Washington they will not allow Israeli jets to use their airspace for an attack, Reuters reported, citing three sources close to their governments.
“The Iranians have stated: ‘if the Gulf states open up their airspace to Israel, that would be an act of war’,” the agency quoted Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the royal court, as saying.
Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly discussed a potential Israeli strike with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Wednesday, according to sources on both sides.
Two Iranian officials confirmed to the agency that Tehran has warned Riyadh against helping Israel, saying it could not guarantee the safety of Saudi Arabia’s oil facility in such a scenario.
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the UAE are keen to de-escalate the situation, the Gulf sources told Reuters.
“We will be in the middle of a missile war,” one Gulf source said. “There is serious concern, especially if the Israeli strike targets Iran’s oil installations.”
Another Gulf source was convinced that the US “won’t allow the oil war to expand,” because this would negatively affect Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances of winning the presidential election in November.
“If oil prices surge to $120 per barrel, it would harm both the US economy and Harris’ chances in the election,” the source said. Brent crude pricing stood at $78.10 per barrel on Wednesday.
The White House declined to comment on the matter to Reuters, but confirmed that US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone on Wednesday about the potential strikes.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have told Israel that use of their airspace is “off the table and strategically unnecessary,” Reuters paraphrased its three Gulf sources as saying. That leaves Netanyahu with the choice of sending jets over Jordan and Iraq, or through the Red Sea and around the Arabian Peninsula, using in-air refueling capabilities.