Gulf States, Except UAE, Reportedly Aligning with Turkey and Iran After Leaving Israel Post-War

The heat of the war against Iran is assessed to have weakened the prospects for further normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab countries, particularly in the Gulf region, reports the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, as quoted by Al Mayadeen on Saturday (11/4/2026). Senior Israeli officials believe that the current trajectory of the war reduces the likelihood of expanding normalisation agreements, at least in the short term. The report mentions that Gulf countries are now tending to choose closer engagement with Iran and Turkey. This move is driven by security considerations and regional realities, rather than political alignment. This shift is described as a pragmatic response to the risks revealed during the recent aggression in Iran and Lebanon, rather than a fundamental realignment of politics. Risk of security The Financial Times report last week noted that Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, feel dragged into a war they initially wanted to avoid. Now, they must face direct security risks from Iranian retaliatory attacks. Although Saudi Arabia still views Iran as a “strategic threat” and supports efforts to limit Tehran’s missile and drone capabilities, Riyadh is reported to oppose actions that could trigger uncontrolled escalation. This includes attacks on energy infrastructure or attempts at regime change in Iran.