Gulf States Urge U.S. and Israel to Pursue Iranian Regime Change

Gulf states have privately urged the United States and Israel to pursue regime change in Tehran following Iranian strikes on energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. While these nations publicly condemn the conflict and demand that Iran cease its attacks, they are coordinating behind the scenes to promote a United Nations Security Council resolution against the Iranian government.

During a regional meeting in Riyadh, foreign ministers from countries including Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan issued a formal demand for Tehran to halt strikes on residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, the Saudi Foreign Minister, warned that Iran has miscalculated the military capabilities of the region.

Diplomatic efforts are currently focused on maintaining freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite their private push for a change in Iranian leadership, some Gulf states remain hesitant to commit to direct military involvement due to fears of Iranian retaliation and the potential instability of a post-war transition. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter stated that Israel has offered assistance to Gulf states in managing the ongoing Iranian attacks.