The Gulf’s Delusion: Why “Destroying Iran” Will Backfire

The Gulf is asking for a war it cannot win and a peace it cannot survive. Across Western and regional media, Arab Gulf states are no longer merely supporting US strikes on Iran. They are urging Washington to go further: not to stop short, not to settle for deterrence, but to fundamentally degrade—or even eliminate—the Iranian regime as a threat.

Why the Gulf Wants Iran “Destroyed”

To understand the Gulf’s position, one must take its fears seriously. For years, Iran has developed what Gulf policymakers see as a uniquely destabilizing model of power: not conventional military dominance, but networked influence through proxies, missiles, drones, and maritime disruption. Recent attacks have reinforced this perception. Gulf states now face not just a rival across the water but a threat embedded across Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon and increasingly within their own borders. The war has taken the shine off the glittery capitals. These states, for decades, relied on the US as a counterforce. However, the ongoing war has badly exposed the limits of US power in and beyond the Gulf to achieve its objectives through military means.

This has produced a shift in thinking. Diplomacy, once seen as a way to manage Iran, is now viewed as insufficient. The logic emerging in Gulf capitals is blunt: as long as Iran retains its capabilities, it will remain dangerous. Temporary ceasefires merely reset the cycle. This explains why Gulf officials are pushing Washington not to end the war prematurely. As reported, they are urging the US to ensure that any outcome “goes beyond a ceasefire” and permanently degrades Iran’s military and strategic........

© New Eastern Outlook