As Washington and Tehran edge closer to what could become a broader ceasefire agreement, Gulf states are confronting an uncomfortable question: can the region continue relying on outside powers for security, or has the war exposed the limits of American guarantees?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said a deal between the United States and Iran could come “within hours”, while Donald Trump claimed a framework had already been “largely negotiated”. The proposed arrangement could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease some sanctions on Tehran and temporarily halt one of the most dangerous regional conflicts in decades. Yet for the Gulf monarchies caught in the middle of the war, the ceasefire has not brought reassurance. Instead, it has deepened anxieties about their long-term security.
