100 days of Iran war: Gulf states grapple with security and economic consequences

Key points

• The US-Israel war with Iran has forced the Gulf states to reassess long-held assumptions about security, alliances and stability in their region.
• What does this mean for the future?
• For the regional Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — the consequences of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran extend far beyond immediate military threat.
• Since February 28, when the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran, and despite a nominal ceasefire, the GCC countries, have been performing a difficult balancing act.
• Key infrastructure in the region is being targeted by thousands of ballistic missiles and drones while the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by — imposed by both Iran and the US — has had a major impact on trade and economic stability.