Gulf allies see Iran deal as transformative
Washington, June 18
US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday said Gulf Arab nations strongly support the Trump administration's Iran agreement, arguing that regional governments view it as a "transformative" opportunity to weaken Tehran's destabilising activities and promote long-term stability in the Middle East.
At a White House briefing, Vance repeatedly pointed to backing from Gulf countries as one of the strongest endorsements of the agreement, contrasting their reaction with their opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration.
"I tend to think that you should trust the people who know the Iranians the best and have the most to lose," Vance said.
"What are the Gulf Arab states saying about this deal? What are they saying about this deal compared to the JCPoA in 2015?"
According to Vance, regional governments viewed the Obama-era accord as empowering Iran and enabling its influence across the Middle East.
"Back then, they hated that deal," he said. "They felt like it empowered the Iranians to be bad actors across the region, and of course, that's exactly what happened."
He added: "They were right about that."
Gulf states see opportunity
Vance said Gulf governments have taken a markedly different view of the Trump administration's agreement because they believe Iran has emerged from the conflict in a substantially weakened position.
"What are they saying about the President's peace deal?" he asked. "They're saying this is an amazingly transformative thing for the region."
The vice president argued that regional governments see benefits regardless of whether Tehran ultimately follows through on its commitments.
"Either way, we and the broader region win," he said.
"Iran is weakened, their nuclear program destroyed, their economy in desperate straits, and if they change their behavior, big things are going to happen for Iran and for the world."
Vance said the agreement was structured so that Iran would only receive broader economic benefits if it complied with its obligations.
"If they don't, no skin off our backs either way, we win, and that's the way the President has set up this deal and this negotiation," he said.
New security framework envisioned
A significant part of the administration's vision involves creating a long-term regional security arrangement centred on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important waterways.
Vance said the memorandum of understanding envisions future discussions among Iran, Oman and Gulf Arab states to establish a framework to prevent future disruptions to international shipping.
"The MOU contemplates that the Omanis, the Iranians and the Gulf Coast coalition together will figure out a proper security framework for the Straits in the future," he said.
The objective, he said, is to ensure that the waterway can never again be used to threaten global trade and energy flows.
"We don't ever want this to happen again."
"That's about ensuring that the straits are never used as a choke point for the global economy ever again."
Vance argued that such an arrangement reflects the interests of all parties involved.
"It's frankly not what the Iranians want, it's not what the Omanis want, it's not what the GCC wants either," he said.
Economic integration is seen as leverage
The vice president also suggested that Gulf nations could become important economic partners for Iran if Tehran demonstrates lasting compliance.
"There is a great desire from the Arab world and from outside the Arab world to actually get involved in Iran if they behave properly," he said.
Vance cited the United Arab Emirates as an example of a country that could potentially participate in future development projects should sanctions restrictions eventually be eased.
"If they behave and if the Emiratis themselves want to build a power plant, then we will do the sanctions relief necessary to make that possible," he said.
Rather than viewing future investment as a concession to Tehran, Vance argued that deeper economic integration would provide additional leverage over Iranian behaviour.
"The good thing about that is that it actually creates integration, which is leverage," he said.
"A world where the Gulf Coast coalition has greater leverage in the Iranian economy is a world where the Iranians are going to be heavily prevented from misbehaving."
Regional endorsement
Throughout the briefing, Vance returned repeatedly to the support of Gulf partners as a key justification for the agreement.
"The Gulf Coast coalition loves this deal because they think that it makes Iran weaker," he said.
"They know more about this, and they have more to lose than anybody, including the United States of America."
The Gulf states have long been among the most vocal critics of Iran's regional activities, including its support for armed groups across the Middle East.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The key point here is that the Gulf states 'love' this deal because Iran is weakened. But we've seen this before with the JCPOA - promises of economic integration that never fully materialised. For India, our strategic partnership with Iran (Chabahar port, connectivity to Afghanistan) and our energy needs from the Gulf create a delicate balancing act. One wrong move and we're caught between two fires.
I'm sceptical about this whole 'transformative' narrative. The Iranians are no fools - they've been playing this game for decades. And what about India's interests? We need a stable Middle East for our energy security and the millions of Indians working there. This deal might make the Gulf happy, but it could also embolden other players in the region. 🙄
As an Indian who has worked in the Gulf for 15 years, I can tell you that the average person there is just tired of conflict. The Strait of Hormuz being a choke point affects everybody's petrol prices, including ours in India. If this deal genuinely reduces tensions and stabilises shipping lanes, it's good for the global economy. But I remain cautious - these deals have a habit of unravelling when least expected.
The economic integration angle is interesting - 'leverage through investment'. But let's be honest, if the US and Gulf states are serious about integrating Iran, they need to be prepared for the long haul. Sanctions relief should be tied to genuine human rights improvements, not just behaviour in the region. India should watch closely - our relations with both Iran and the Gulf are too important to be caught off guard by sudden shifts.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.