Tehran is delivering discreet diplomatic warnings, indicating that it will target oil-rich Gulf Arab nations and other US allies in the Middle East if their land or airspace is used for assaults on Iran, Arab officials informed The Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

In response to Iran launching around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month, Israel has threatened severe retaliation. Some Israeli officials and commentators are advocating for substantial strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites or oil infrastructure. In turn, Iran has cautioned that it will attack Israel’s civilian facilities and retaliate against any Arab nation that facilitates such an assault, the officials told The Wall Street Journal.

The countries singled out by Iran include Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, all of which host US military personnel, according to the Arab officials. These nations have conveyed to the Biden administration their desire to prevent their military infrastructure or airspace from being utilized by the US or Israel for offensive operations against Iran, the officials noted.

Despite the vagueness of the Iranian threats, they have caused concern among the energy-rich Gulf states, which have long assumed their oil installations were protected by American security assurances, as highlighted by the Arab officials.

US defense officials confirmed that several regional partners have notified the Pentagon they do not want Israeli aircraft operating over their airspace or US forces conducting offensive operations from their territory. However, they have permitted US forces to engage in self-defense actions, the officials indicated.

Earlier this week, a high-ranking Iranian official stated that Tehran has alerted Gulf states that it would be “unacceptable” for them to allow their airspace to be used for operations against Iran, warning that such actions would provoke a response.

“Iran made it clear that any action by a Persian Gulf country against Tehran, whether through the use of airspace or military bases, will be regarded by Tehran as an action taken by the entire group, and Tehran will respond accordingly,” the senior Iranian official told Reuters.

“The message emphasized the need for regional unity against Israel and the importance of securing stability. It also made clear that any assistance to Israel, such as allowing the use of a regional country’s airspace for actions against Iran, is unacceptable,” he added.

Last week, US President Joe Biden expressed his opposition to an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities as retaliation for Iran’s missile attack on Israel. “The answer is no,” Biden said when asked about the possibility of Israel conducting a retaliatory strike on sites connected to Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

Two days later, Biden indicated he would consider “alternatives” to targeting Iran’s oil fields, an action that would severely damage Iran’s economy, if he were in Israel’s position. “If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oilfields,” Biden remarked.

On Wednesday, Biden and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu spoke by phone regarding Israel’s planned response to the Iranian missile assault. Three US and Israeli officials revealed to Axios on Thursday that Biden and Netanyahu have made progress toward an agreement concerning Israel’s intended retaliation against Iran following their conversation.

{Matzav.com}