According to Jerusalem Post, as the White House signals renewed efforts to broker an end to regional hostilities, Gulf leaders are quietly warning President Trump against striking a deal that would leave Iran’s military capabilities intact, according to sources familiar with the private discussions.
The warnings, delivered through back-channel communications in recent weeks, reflect deep-seated anxiety among key U.S. allies in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, both long-standing adversaries of Tehran, are pressing the administration to ensure any agreement significantly rolls back Iran’s missile programs and regional influence rather than simply freezing the current conflict.
According to two sources cited by The Post, the Gulf states are focused on a strategic chokepoint critical to the global economy.
“Gulf leaders are warning Trump, don’t end this war too soon.
The sources said Saudi and UAE leaders privately urged Trump not to accept a deal that leaves Iran’s military posture intact, two sources told the Post. At the center of their concern: the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil passes.
For Gulf capitals, the Strait represents both an economic lifeline and a point of extreme vulnerability. Iranian forces have previously harassed, seized, or attacked tankers transiting the narrow waterway during past periods of tension, demonstrating what officials in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi view as a persistent threat that would only grow if Tehran emerges from the current conflict with its military infrastructure unweakened.
The private appeals underscore a delicate balancing act for the Gulf states, which have sought to de-escalate tensions with Tehran in recent years while maintaining their strategic defense partnership with Washington. Officials fear that a premature or overly permissive agreement could empower Iran to expand its influence across the region, threatening both their territorial security and the stability of global energy markets.
The White House has not publicly responded to the reported Gulf concerns. However, the warnings highlight the complex web of regional interests awaiting any diplomatic push to end the conflict.
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