Gulf States Release Frozen Iranian Funds as Tehran Gains Leverage After 12-Day War
Updated
Updated · Ynetnews · Jun 16
Gulf States Release Frozen Iranian Funds as Tehran Gains Leverage After 12-Day War
2 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · Jun 16
Summary
Gulf states are freeing Iranian funds and preparing to invest in rebuilding Iran, moves regional officials describe as “protection money” meant to deter future attacks from a stronger-seeming Tehran.
That shift follows the 12-day war, after which Arab governments judged Iran to have withstood both the United States and Israel and to have emerged with greater regional leverage.
Israeli officials say the fallout hurts Israel’s diplomacy: no major breakthrough with Gulf states is expected before elections, and any expansion of the Abraham Accords faces resistance while Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power.
The regional realignment also strengthens a hardline Sunni bloc of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and Pakistan, while an Israeli official warned a more confident Iran further reduces any chance Hamas will disarm.