Gulf states warn US action against Iran could rock oil markets

Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar are urging the US administration not to carry out military strikes against Iran, warning that any attempt to topple the Iranian leadership could destabilise oil markets and ultimately harm the US economy.

Regional officials also caution that an attack could disrupt tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital choke point that handles roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Saudi Arabia has assured Tehran it would not take part in a potential conflict and would not allow the US to use its airspace for strikes. 

According to the outlet, President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on Iran and is consulting advisers on options ranging from military action and cyber operations to new sanctions and online pressure campaigns.

Protests have spread across Iran since December 28, 2025, beginning at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar as the national currency sharply depreciated amid deepening economic pressures.

Fatality figures linked to the unrest vary widely, with some sources reporting at least 12,000 deaths on January 8–9, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has documented more than 540 fatalities.

HRANA also reported that at least 10,681 people have been detained during the protests, which erupted in 585 locations across 186 cities in all 31 provinces.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced the imposition of 25% import tariffs on goods from countries trading with Iran and said military options remain under consideration. China criticised the move, while Iranian authorities have yet to issue a public response.

By Jeyhun Aghazada