International
oi-Amit Vasudev
Iran
has
issued
a
stern
warning
to
its
Arab
neighbours
and
US
allies
in
the
Gulf,
cautioning
of
severe
retaliation
if
their
territories
or
airspace
are
used
to
assist
Israel
in
any
potential
strikes
on
Iran,
according
to
a
report
by
the
Wall
Street
Journal.
The
warning,
delivered
through
secret
diplomatic
channels,
was
directed
at
oil-rich
nations
such
as
Saudi
Arabia,
the
United
Arab
Emirates,
Jordan,
and
Qatar,
all
of
which
host
US
military
forces,
the
report
stated.
Ayatollah
Ali
Khamenei
This
development
follows
Israel’s
vow
of
a
strong
reprisal
against
Tehran
after
an
Iranian
ballistic
missile
attack
targeted
Israel
earlier
this
month.
Outraged
by
the
assault,
Israeli
officials
have
been
advocating
for
retaliatory
strikes
on
Iran’s
nuclear
or
oil
infrastructure,
which
they
believe
are
crucial
in
weakening
Tehran’s
aggressive
military
stance.
In
response,
Iran
has
vowed
to
retaliate,
threatening
to
target
not
only
Israel’s
civilian
infrastructure
but
also
Arab
states
that
might
aid
in
an
Israeli
or
US-led
offensive.
According
to
the
Wall
Street
Journal,
these
nations
have
conveyed
to
the
Biden
administration
their
reluctance
to
become
entangled
in
a
wider
conflict
by
permitting
their
military
assets
or
airspace
to
be
used
for
strikes
against
Iran.
Officials
in
these
Gulf
states,
rich
in
energy
resources,
are
concerned
that
their
oil
facilities,
traditionally
viewed
as
being
under
US
protection,
could
become
prime
targets
if
hostilities
escalate.
With
one
of
the
world’s
largest
concentrations
of
American
troops
stationed
in
the
region,
any
military
engagement
could
also
put
US
forces
in
harm’s
way.
One
of
the
major
concerns
for
Gulf
nations
is
the
potential
impact
on
the
global
oil
market
if
the
situation
escalates
into
full-scale
conflict.
A
war
between
Israel
and
Iran
could
disrupt
oil
exports
through
the
Strait
of
Hormuz,
a
critical
passage
for
global
energy
supplies.
Any
interruption
in
the
oil
flow
could
cause
energy
prices
to
surge,
destabilising
both
the
region
and
global
markets.
The
WSJ
report
suggested
that
Arab
leaders,
including
those
from
Saudi
Arabia
and
the
UAE,
have
vowed
to
avoid
any
involvement
in
potential
military
strikes
against
Iran,
fearing
the
repercussions
on
their
oil
infrastructure.
In
response
to
the
rising
tensions,
the
US
has
imposed
new
sanctions
on
Iran’s
oil
and
petrochemical
sectors,
specifically
targeting
Iran’s
so-called
“shadow
fleet” of
ships
involved
in
evading
sanctions.
The
US
Treasury
and
State
Departments
identified
multiple
companies
and
vessels
engaged
in
the
transport
of
Iranian
petroleum,
as
part
of
a
broader
effort
to
cut
off
financial
support
for
Iran’s
missile
programmes
and
regional
militias.
“Today’s
sanctions
target
Iranian
efforts
to
channel
revenues
from
its
energy
industry
to
finance
deadly
and
disruptive
activity,
including
the
development
of
its
nuclear
programme
and
ballistic
missile
proliferation,”
US
Treasury
Secretary
Janet
Yellen
said
in
a
statement.
The
escalating
tensions
are
further
complicating
the
already
delicate
alliances
between
Arab
states
and
Israel.
While
these
nations
share
a
common
interest
in
countering
Iran’s
influence,
they
are
wary
of
becoming
involved
in
a
direct
military
confrontation
that
could
engulf
the
entire
region.
Some
Arab
countries,
such
as
Jordan,
have
previously
cooperated
with
Israel
and
the
US
by
intercepting
Iranian
projectiles
aimed
at
Israel
earlier
in
the
year.
However,
supporting
a
full-scale
Israeli
attack
on
Iranian
soil
is
viewed
as
a
far
more
perilous
move.
