Australia and the World Past and Present

Iran and Saudi Arabia have had their issues in the past. Iran’s population is mostly Shia while Saudi Arabia is mostly Sunni. There have been disagreements over oil production. Some of the holiest sites of Islam are located in Saudi Arabia and there have been access issues to them in the past.

Saudi Arabia is relatively close to the US, while Iran sees America as the enemy.

Saudi Arabia would be happy to see a relatively weak Iran. But perhaps not to the extent that the state totally collapses or a long-lasting civil war eventuates.

Saudi Arabia wants to see greater stability in the Middle East, as do many of the Gulf states.

They want to focus on economic growth and development.

Many of the Gulf states have positioned themselves as world financial centers, and for that you need stability.

Many countries in the Middle East host American military facilities.

These include Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt.

Since the start of the conflict, Iran has launched drone attacks against many of its neighbours.

And the Gulf states are naturally upset by this.

While having had many points of disagreement with Iran in the past, for the most part the Gulf states have tried to advance diplomatic solutions to conflicts between Iran and the US/Israel.

Over time, many of the Gulf states have been working towards coexistence with Israel.

Egypt did in 1979 as did Jordan in 1994.

Other states have been working towards the normalisation of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.

The Iranian regime sees this as totally unacceptable.

It should come as not surprise that the Gulf states are heavily dependent on desalinated water.

In Kuwait, around 90% of its water is desalinated.

In Qatar and Oman, over 80% of water is desalinated.

The figure is around 70% in Saudi Arabia, 60-70% in Bahrain and about 40% in the UAE.

On 8 March, an Iranian drone hit a desalination plant in Bahrain.

In the UAE, Dubai International Airport was shut down because of nearby drone strikes.

In Oman, the civilian ports of Duqm and Salalah were hit.

The Ras Tanura oil refinery was hit in Saudi Arabia.

Airports, residential civilian districts, civilian ports and energy infrastructure have been hit in the Gulf states.

These countries are in a tough spot.

They didn’t start the current conflict, yet now they are facing attacks on their territory.

There will be a sense of betrayal.