Saudi Arabia-Iran Strategy Gap on Display: Privately Urged U.S. to Get Tough, Publicly Avoided Direct Confrontation

March 16 – According to The New York Times, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has held multiple phone calls with former U.S. President Donald Trump, privately urging the U.S. to maintain its tough stance against Iran. This position is viewed as an extension of the "cut off the head of the snake" strategy previously proposed by the late Saudi King Abdullah. However, Gulf countries as a whole have remained cautious publicly. During a recent meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, bin Salman noted that Iran’s attacks on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations pose a serious threat to regional security—but emphasized the GCC will prioritize preserving regional stability. Despite the conflict having lasted roughly two weeks, with Iran launching over 2,000 missiles and drones into the Gulf region, Gulf states have no plans for direct retaliatory strikes against Iran. Multiple sources indicate countries fear direct involvement could trigger larger-scale retaliation and have unpredictable ramifications for the post-conflict regional landscape. Analysis suggests Gulf nations’ current strategy hinges on two tracks: supporting efforts to contain Iran’s influence on one hand, while avoiding direct engagement in the conflict on the other—highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the current Middle East situation.