Gulf Allies Brace for U.S. Strikes on Iran as Fears of Retaliation Mount

America's Gulf allies are tightening security and pushing urgent diplomacy as they prepare for possible U.S. strikes on Iran, fearing Tehran could retaliate against airports, energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure across the region, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The preparations reflect growing concern that renewed American bombardment could pull neighboring countries into a broader confrontation. President Donald Trump has been considering attacks on Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites after Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections, but has not made a final decision. He said on Monday he was in "no rush" to make such a decision.

Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have conducted security exercises, including airport drills. Some participants at a major energy conference in Abu Dhabi were leaving early following government advice, while schools in Riyadh were set to remain online this week.

Dutch and Belgian embassies also warned that regional security could deteriorate rapidly, the newspaper reported. Anwar Gargash, a senior foreign-policy adviser to the UAE president, said his country hoped negotiations would succeed but was "braced for the worst."

The military preparations are unfolding alongside efforts to prevent another escalation. During a Saturday telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he wanted to give diplomacy more time, people familiar with the discussion told the Journal.

Netanyahu pushed for strikes immediately after the elections, according to those accounts. Israel has prepared military plans and placed its forces on high alert. Trump nevertheless signaled that his patience was limited during a Sunday campaign rally in Iowa.

"But at some point we're going to have to give them the hammer," he said. Iranian officials have warned that retaliation would face no restraints, even as President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to continue negotiations.

"We are trying to solve the problem through dialogue," Pezeshkian said, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Washington has been replenishing ammunition and strengthening regional defenses, including relocating troops from vulnerable bases and sending another Patriot missile-defense system to Israel, the Journal reported.

For Gulf governments, the central danger is that Iran could answer attacks it cannot prevent by striking neighboring countries with more exposed infrastructure. Tehran has threatened American and Gulf targets through public statements and private diplomatic messages, according to the report.

Some Arab governments have warned Iran that attacks on their infrastructure could bring individual or collective retaliation. The UAE struck Iran during the spring, while most other Gulf countries largely avoided direct participation.

Qatar is trying to break a negotiating impasse over which side should make the first concession. One proposal would pair an Iranian pause in attacks on Strait of Hormuz shipping with an easing of the U.S. naval blockade. Nuclear inspectors would subsequently return to Iran, followed by discussions about enriched uranium and eventual sanctions relief, mediators told the Journal.

Qatari officials have also sought to shorten an initial confidence-building period from seven days to two. Washington remains reluctant to loosen the blockade without concrete nuclear progress, fearing Tehran could use the opening to accelerate oil exports. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that nuclear issues had not been discussed.

Regional diplomacy has produced few visible results. After Saudi, Pakistani and Turkish officials visited Tehran last week, Houthi forces launched attacks targeting Saudi locations, including Riyadh and the oil hub Ras Tanura, according to the report. Saudi officials had sought Iranian help restraining the Yemen-based group.