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Gulf States Moving Towards Joining Fight Against Iran; Pressing Trump to ‘finish the job’

In targeting their fellow Islamic states, the radical Iranian clerics may have changed the map of the Middle East and the alliances that shape it in ways far more profound than they intended. Wall Street Journal: U.S. allies in the Persian Gulf are inching toward joining the fight against Iran, getting tougher following persistent attacks that have disrupted their economies and risk giving Tehran long-term leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. The recent steps support America’s ability to carry out airstrikes and open up a new line of attack on Tehran’s finances. They don’t yet go as far as deploying their militaries openly in the fight, a line the Gulf’s rulers have hoped not to cross, though pressure is building as Iran threatens to exert greater sway over the energy-rich region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now eager to re-establish deterrence and is close to a decision to join the attacks, the people said. It is only a matter of time before the kingdom enters the war, one of the people said….  “Saudi Arabia’s patience with Iranian attacks is not unlimited,” Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan told reporters last week after a series of Iranian attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure. “Any belief that Gulf countries are incapable of responding is a miscalculation.” … The leaders of Gulf states, particularly the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, are pressing Trump in regular phone conversations to finish the job and destroy Iran’s military capabilities before moving on, Arab officials said. The moves also are convincing Arab states they might need to deliver some punishment to re-establish deterrence, people familiar with the matter said (Wall Street Journal).