Politico reports that as the US–Iran conflict continues, Arab states hit by
Iranian retaliatory strikes have sought coordination toward peace but
longstanding rifts are hampering progress. In recent weeks senior UAE and Saudi
officials staged public photo-ops signaling a thaw; Jordan and the six GCC
members held meetings at the US State Department and on Capitol Hill; and the
Gulf Cooperation Council issued multiple joint statements condemning Iran’s
attacks. Multiple Arab diplomats, current and former US officials, and regional
sources say the states all want the Strait of Hormuz kept open but disagree on
how to do so — including which countries can provide alternative shipping
routes, which infrastructure is most linked to Iran, and which economies are
bearing the biggest losses — preventing substantive progress. An Iraqi official
said they are coordinating visits to Congress and the State Department but are
not united on policy. David Schenker, former US State Department Middle East
director, said the war has amplified pre-existing divisions in the Gulf.
