Gulf states fear cease-fire after US downplays Iranian attacks
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 9
Gulf states fear cease-fire after US downplays Iranian attacks
6 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 9
General Dan Caine called fire on ships in the Strait of Hormuz “low harassing fire”, while Donald Trump said Iran had “trifled with us”.
Gulf officials fear any deal will address Iran’s nuclear programme but leave missiles and allied militias intact, despite Marco Rubio seeking a Friday response and approving $25.8bn in regional arms sales.
The war has damaged Gulf security and economies, strained Israel normalisation efforts and pushed some states to reassess reliance on US bases while seeking other security partners.
Will this war shatter the Abraham Accords or forge an even deeper Israeli-Gulf military partnership?
As the US security umbrella falters, can Gulf nations build an alliance capable of deterring Iran alone?
Is Iran's low-cost drone warfare making multi-billion dollar air defense systems obsolete?
Strait of Hormuz Nearly Closed: 2026 US-Iran Standoff Triggers Oil Shock and Gulf Security Shakeup
Overview
In May 2026, the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran quickly unraveled as Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route. This move followed earlier promises by Iran to halt attacks on Gulf countries, but few commercial ships have passed through since. Iran warned ships against cooperating with the US and threatened American forces approaching the Strait. In response, the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. These escalating actions have strained the ceasefire, disrupted global shipping, and triggered sharp rises in fuel prices, highlighting the region’s growing instability and global economic risks.