As the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran enters its third week, the Gulf region stands at a precarious crossroads—one marked by escalating military strikes, economic turmoil, and a chorus of diplomatic pleas for peace. The conflict, ignited by a joint U.S.-Israeli offensive on February 28, 2026, has quickly spiraled into a regional crisis, with Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowing fierce retaliation and the world anxiously watching the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the globe’s oil supply flows.
On March 13, 2026, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed to Sky News that the U.S. Navy will soon escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially alongside an international coalition. "My belief is that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through," Bessent stated, hinting at the urgency of restoring stability in the world’s most vital energy corridor. He added that some Iranian and Chinese-flagged tankers have managed to pass through, noting, "So we know that they have not mined the straits."
This announcement followed days of relentless Iranian attacks on shipping traffic and energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, which pushed oil prices soaring back above $100 a barrel and sent global stock markets tumbling. The surge came despite a coordinated effort by developed nations to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves—nearly half from the United States—in hopes of cushioning the blow to global energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz, now effectively closed to U.S.- and Israel-linked vessels, remains under Iranian control. According to Iran, other ships must now seek Iranian permission to transit. The closure has left oil and gas producers in the Gulf scrambling, with their only route to the open sea blocked. The resulting economic shockwaves have been felt worldwide, underscoring the strategic importance of the narrow waterway.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed after the assassination of his father, made his intentions clear in a fiery address. He warned that attacks on Israel and U.S. military assets would continue unless all bases hosting U.S. forces in the region are closed. "I will not refrain from avenging the blood of our martyrs," Khamenei declared, as a fresh wave of Israeli airstrikes pummeled Tehran, leaving the city shrouded in smoke and fear.
The violence hasn’t been confined to Iran. Gulf countries—Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman—have all come under attack. Iran’s missiles and drones have struck oil facilities, airports, hotels, shopping malls, and even freshwater resources, evading high-tech air defense systems and putting millions of civilians at risk. Bahrain reported intercepting 114 missiles and 190 drones, while Saudi Arabia destroyed nearly 40 drones in a single day. The United Arab Emirates condemned Iranian strikes that hit Dubai International Airport and several hotels, prompting Australia to evacuate officials and urge citizens to leave the region.
Gulf states, united in their anger at Iran’s aggression, rallied 135 nations at the United Nations to condemn Tehran’s retaliatory strikes—a resolution that passed the Security Council on March 11. Yet, as Qatar’s adviser to the prime minister, Majed al-Ansari, told CBS, the region’s leaders are also frustrated with Washington’s handling of the war. "Our message to all the Iranian leadership, you have chosen to drag the region into this war in the hopes of finding an end to it. You are doing the complete opposite of that," al-Ansari said, urging a return to diplomacy.
Despite their outrage at Iran, Gulf countries are wary of President Trump’s and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to launch the conflict. As Hussein Ibish of the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington explained, "The mood in the Gulf is three layers, first is rage against Iran, second is dismay with Washington, and third is profound suspicion about Israel’s regional agenda and profile." Many Gulf leaders see little benefit in the war, which has already cost the U.S. around $11 billion and shows no sign of ending soon. The U.S. energy secretary, Chris Wright, acknowledged that while escorting oil tankers through the strait will happen "relatively soon," the U.S. is "simply not ready" yet.
Diplomatic channels remain open, if strained. Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq spoke by phone with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, calling for "the language of dialogue and diplomacy" to end the conflict, even as he condemned Iranian drone attacks on Omani oil facilities. Qatar and Oman, historically on better terms with Tehran, are offering themselves as mediators, providing Iran with a potential diplomatic off-ramp.
Yet, the war’s devastation continues. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, reported at least 1,348 civilian deaths, with victims as young as eight months old. In Lebanon, Israeli bombardments have killed nearly 700 people, including 98 children, and displaced up to 750,000. Iraq has shut its ports after a deadly attack on a U.S.-owned oil tanker, and a U.S. refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, though U.S. Central Command denied hostile fire was involved.
On the home front, President Trump has insisted the war is "moving very rapidly" and that the U.S. military is "unsurpassed." But domestic opposition is growing, with over 250 organizations urging Congress to halt funding, arguing that more than $11.3 billion spent in the first six days alone is diverting resources from urgent domestic needs. Senator Lindsey Graham downplayed the possibility of deploying U.S. ground troops to Iran, but warned, "I don’t see this conflict ending today."
The U.S.-UK relationship has also been tested. President Trump criticized the UK for its initial refusal to allow U.S. attacks on Iran from British bases, though Prime Minister Keir Starmer later granted access for defensive operations. Treasury Secretary Bessent acknowledged the delay increased risks for U.S. forces but emphasized the enduring "great historical relationship" between the two nations, despite "some bumps in the road."
Meanwhile, Gulf countries are exploring ways to leverage their economic power, warning they might reduce investments in the U.S. and deepen ties with China, Russia, and Europe. As Firas Maksad of Eurasia Group noted, "These countries do not have much of an alternative to the American security umbrella in the region, they are tethered to the United States as far as their security is concerned." Still, diversification of economic and military partnerships is underway, reflecting a growing mistrust in Washington’s commitments.
As the world watches the Strait of Hormuz and the battered cities of the Middle East, the stakes could hardly be higher. The war has upended global energy markets, displaced hundreds of thousands, and left the region’s future hanging in the balance. Whether the coming days bring further escalation or a turn toward diplomacy remains to be seen, but for now, the Gulf stands united in its call for peace—even as the guns keep firing.