The Gulf’s Energy Security Is Under Fire: What Comes Next?

Iran’s strikes have exposed the Gulf’s energy security as a strategic Achilles’ heel, while the US-Iran confrontation is turning the region into a wider battlefield. As American protection increasingly carries the risk of regional blowback, the Gulf states face a stark choice: retaliate, de-escalate, or pursue strategic autonomy.

The Gulf’s New Vulnerability

Initially, it was considered that the Gulf’s only valuable assets included its oil and gas reserves, which ultimately increased the importance of the Strait of Hormuz. But the recent US-Iran conflict clarified one thing: energy, water, and infrastructure that keep modern Gulf societies alive are indeed vulnerable to external threats, which could undermine their decades-long setup of higher standards of living.

Iran’s Expanding Target Set

Given the growing instability in the Middle East region, coupled with constant ceasefire breaches by Americans, the distinction between military and civil infrastructure is becoming increasingly difficult. The first attack took place on July 19, 2026, when Iran struck both counterforce and countervalue sites in Gulf countries. Attacks were carried out in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), they have hit the United States hard by striking its military bases in Kuwait and Jordan. Furthermore, according to the Iranian army, it attacked a US ammunition storage facility at Camp al-Adiri and air defense radar systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base, where US forces are stationed.

Why Is Iran Targeting Gulf Infrastructure?

The game of reciprocity has begun. The US recently announced it would hit Iranian economic infrastructure throughout........

© New Eastern Outlook