How Arab States Are Responding to Iran’s Retaliation

Yesterday, the US and Israel launched joint and ongoing attacks against Iran’s leadership and military and killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks against US assets across the region, hitting Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and today, Oman.

These are the most recent statements from the targeted Arab and Gulf countries governments and officials.

Bahrain, 1:07 PM, March 1st

The Ministry of Interior announced that “The Crown Plaza Hotel in Manama was targeted, resulting in material damaged but no loss of life.”

Saudi Arabia, 12:44 PM, March 1st

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the blatant Iranian aggression against the Sultanate of Oman” and “affirms its readiness to place all its capabilities at Oman’s disposal.” They warn of “the serious consequences of Iran’s continued violations of states’ sovereignty” and call on the international community “to take firm positions and decisive measures against Iranian violations.”

Qatar, 12:34 PM, March 1st

The Qatari government strongly condemned the Iranian attacks on Quqm Port in Oman and an oil tanker off of its coast as “a cowardly targeting of a country playing an active mediating role between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the international community.”

Kuwait, 12:09 PM, March 1st

Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “expresses the State of Kuwait’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the Iranian attacks that targeted the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, in flagrant violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.” The statement reaffirmed Kuwait’s full solidarity with Oman and its support for all measures taken to safeguard its “sovereignty, security, and stability.”

UAE, 11:51 PM, February 28th

Reem Al-Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, stated: “We're not going to sit idly by as we continue to be recipients of such a barrage of attacks that are unlawful and unjustified as well. We have, before this began, been very clear about not having our territories being used to attack Iran.”

Oman, 11:03 PM, February 28th

Peter Girnus, diplomatic aide in Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been part of mediation talks between Iran and the US since January. He told the story on Twitter: “Iran had agreed to zero stockpiling…Iran had agreed to everything in a fourteen-page document that I typed in Times New Roman.

The [US] President said they rejected it.

The day after presenting their progress, President Trump announced that “The United States has begun major combat operations in Iran.”

Jordan, 8:38 PM, February 28th

Ayman Safadi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan, condemned Iranian attacks on Jordan, stating: “Iran attacked Jordan without any justification, while recognizing its efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully and preventing it from using its territory or airspace in any attack against it.”

Egypt, 1:00 PM, March 1st

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a task force within the Consular Sector to monitor the situation of Egyptian communities amid regional military escalation. A WhatsApp hotline (02012268580) has been activated for inquiries. The Ministry is coordinating with Egyptian missions in the region to provide support and urges citizens to follow local safety and security guidelines.