WSJ: Saudi Arabia, UAE poised to join military campaign against Iran

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are on the verge of joining a military campaign against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources familiar with the situation.

According to the publication, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman intends to reassert a deterrent following Iran’s strikes on the kingdom’s energy facilities. One WSJ source noted that Riyadh’s entry into the conflict is “a matter of time.” Previously, the kingdom had not allowed its bases or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. However, after missile and drone strikes on the capital and oil infrastructure, the position has shifted: Saudi Arabia has already agreed to provide the King Fahd Air Base to US forces.

The UAE is taking measures against Iranian-owned assets, threatening key sources of Tehran’s funding, discussing the deployment of its troops to the front, and opposing a ceasefire.

Earlier, more than 20 countries expressed their readiness to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement by 22 signatories. Signatories include European states (the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Latvia, and Lithuania), two Gulf countries (the UAE and Bahrain), as well as Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.

The countries called on Iran to immediately halt attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasising that freedom of navigation is a key principle of international law.