Gulf states have reportedly banned the United States from using their airports and airspace for any potential attacks on Iran.
This ban comes as a direct response to US President Donald Trump's announcement on March 30th regarding potential bombing campaigns against Iran, according to a senior US official speaking to Middle East Eye on condition of anonymity.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait have all informed the US that they will not permit their airspace or territory to be used for attacks on Iran.
They have also stated that US aircraft involved in any such operations will not be allowed to refuel in their countries. Furthermore, they will not allow US warplanes to use their airspace or territory for any attack-related rescue missions.
"They [the Gulf leaders] don't want to get involved," said the unnamed senior US official.
The Middle East Eye report indicates that this move by the Gulf states is a significant blow to the Trump administration. The US has recently conducted extensive air and drone strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, aiming to pressure Iran into nuclear talks.
The report also suggests that the refusal of these oil-rich Gulf allies to cooperate with the US in any attack on Iran will embolden Tehran and strengthen its negotiating position with Washington.
However, a former US official, speaking anonymously, stated that some Gulf states did cooperate with the US in the attacks on the Houthi rebels, although he did not disclose which countries.
The Middle East Eye report notes that the US had been confident that it would receive similar cooperation from its Gulf allies regarding Iran, and that these countries would provide assistance in emergency rescue operations should any US warplanes crash.
The Trump administration had been seeking the Gulf states' support to exert "maximum pressure" on Iran, and had recently initiated formal communications to that effect.
US defense and intelligence officials met with their counterparts from the UAE and Saudi Arabia in Washington in March. Shortly after these meetings, the Trump administration approved arms sales to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Qatar received approval to purchase MQ-9 Reaper drones, and Saudi Arabia was authorized to buy a defense system capable of intercepting air-to-surface rockets.
According to the Middle East Eye report, President Trump announced on Monday that he plans to visit Saudi Arabia in early May, and may also visit other Gulf states during the same trip.
Meanwhile, since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2022, the US has increased its deployment of warplanes and military cargo aircraft to Jordan and several Gulf states to the highest levels.
Data from open-source flight tracking services indicate that US military cargo aircraft traffic in the Gulf region has increased by 50%, reaching an all-time high. However, following the Gulf states' ban, the US has reportedly increased the number of B-2 bombers at its military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
An official familiar with the matter stated that the US has previously used Diego Garcia to launch attacks on countries in the Gulf or Middle East. The strategically located island serves as an alternative to US bases in the Gulf region.
During the 1990s, when Saudi Arabia banned the use of its airspace during the Iraq conflict, the US utilized its base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Archipelago.
Open-source satellite data provider Planet Labs reported earlier this week that three B-2 bombers were observed at the Diego Garcia base.
The Middle East Eye report notes that the US military base on Diego Garcia is approximately 5,300 kilometers from Iran. B-2 bombers can fly nearly 11,000 kilometers with a full tank of fuel and carry 30,000 pounds of bombs. These bombs are capable of "bunker busting," suggesting that they could be used to strike deep underground targets in Iran.
