Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, key US allies in the Middle East, have firmly rejected Washington’s requests to use their airspace, territory, or territorial waters for any military action against Iran.
Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, told Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Tuesday during a phone call that the Kingdom “will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran or for any attacks from any party, regardless of their origin”.
He also reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for dialogue to resolve differences and enhance regional stability.
The Saudi Crown Prince’s stand follows a similar declaration by the UAE on Monday, in which the bloc’s foreign ministry confirmed that it would not permit its airspace, land, or waters to be used for hostile military actions against Iran, nor would it provide logistical support, emphasising its commitment to neutrality and de-escalation of tensions.
The refusals complicate potential US military options, as both nations host significant American forces: Saudi Arabia accommodates over 2,300 US troops while the UAE hosts around 5,000 at Al Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi.
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The developments come amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with US President Donald Trump warning Tehran this past week that it had little time to act and also deploying a major naval armada to the region, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, which arrived in the Middle East earlier this week.
Additional assets, including the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Delbert D. Black, have joined the armada, bringing the number of US warships in the CENTCOM area to at least 10.
Trump described the deployment as a show of force to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme, ballistic missile capabilities, and the violent suppression of recent protests, while keeping diplomacy channels open.
The US has also launched large-scale, multi-day military exercises in the Middle East to test dispersal procedures and integration with partner nations.
In response, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, warned on Wednesday that Tehran is “200 per cent ready to defend itself” and would deliver an “appropriate, not proportionate” response to any aggression, likely targeting US bases in the region.
Iranian officials have emphasised that they are not in direct negotiations with the US, but that they are exchanging indirect messages, and warned diplomacy cannot take place in the face of threats.
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