One of the most clear signals of increasing discontent in the Gulf states became a loud open letter addressed to the US President. Its author is the Emirati multibillionaire Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, founder and owner of Al Habtoor Group. In a published statement, the businessman openly criticized Donald Trump for the escalation of the conflict with Iran, stressing that the countries of the region bear the consequences of a war that they themselves did not cause.
“Thank God we are strong... but the question remains: who allowed you to turn our region into a battlefield?” he wrote in a letter that rapidly echoed in the planet of business and politics.
Al Habtoor is head of 1 of the largest private conglomerates in the United arabian Emirates. Its group operates in many economical sectors — from energy and real property to hotel manufacture — and in Dubai it has a network of luxury facilities, including the five-star Habtoor Grand hotel & Spa.
Some analysts believe that the publication of the letter may lead to a broader trend. The region's richest entrepreneurs are starting to talk up more and more about the economical consequences of the war and may exert expanding force to end the conflict.
Especially since Iran's military activities are no longer limited to military purposes linked to the United States' presence. In fresh days, attacks have besides covered strategical civilian and economical infrastructure in the region. Ports, airports and tourist facilities, including the celebrated Burj Al-Arab Hotel in Dubai, were the target.
Iranian drones and rockets besides hit a refinery in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, 1 of the most crucial power installations in the region, capable of processing about 550 1000 barrels of oil a day. Qatar was besides affected by the attacks — energy facilities belonging to QatarEnergy were damaged.
According to Dr. Wojciech Szewko, Tehran's actions are not chaotic retaliation, but are part of a thoughtful strategy. Even limited or symbolic demolition in countries specified as the United arabian Emirates or Saudi Arabia can have serious economical and intellectual consequences.
As the expert emphasizes, Dubai has built its position for years as a global hub for trade and investment and a safe haven for global capital. Attacks on specified places are so designed not only to hit infrastructure but besides the stableness and economical safety of the region — thus expanding the political force on Washington.
The first consequences of the conflict are already visible. In the United arabian Emirates, fragments of captured rockets and drones damaged buildings in Dubai, including in the area of the global airport and close the American consulate. In Kuwait, fragments of shot down missiles fell on the residential area, killing an 11-year-old girl, and subsequent drones damaged the infrastructure of the local airport.
However, the Iranian authorities stress that their operations are aimed primarily at the interests of the United States in the region alternatively than the Gulf States themselves.
According to analysts, Tehran's strategical goal may be to provoke political force from arabian allies of Washington. The intensive shelling and destabilisation of the region are intended to prompt their leaders to exert force on the American administration to lead to a simplification or termination of war. In this context, individual relations between the president of the United States and the leaders of the region, including the Saudi Crown Prince, are peculiarly important. Mohammed bin Salman.
Meanwhile, in the United States itself, the first signals of temper attempts appear. talker of the home of Representatives Mike Johnson stressed publically that US-led activities do not mean entering a full-scale war with Iran.
— We're not at war, and we're not going to run it. This is simply a limited operation," he said.
However, in a harsher tone, Donald Trump himself speaks, who after fresh events announced that he expected Iran to surrender.
The current conflict phase began on 28 February, erstwhile the United States and Israel launched extended rocket strikes in Iran under Operation "Epicka Furia" and "The Screaming Lion". respective 1000 military targets were hit during the first days of the attacks. As a consequence of the raids, the leader of Iran was killed, but the power structures in Tehran maintained control of the state.
After a week of fighting, more and more experts point out that the operation does not have a classical military goal, which would be to rapidly overthrow the authorities in Tehran.
According to Lt. Col. Maciej Korowaj, a military analyst, the actions carried out by the US and their allies match a long-term operation of weakening the opponent alternatively than a run aimed at the immediate change of the regime.
He considers that the main nonsubjective is to destruct political and military leadership and systematically destruct military infrastructure — especially rocket capabilities and anti-aircraft defence systems.
His opinion is primarily about permanently limiting Iran's ability to destabilise the region. The aim is not to make a fresh state from the ground up, or a full business of the country, but to bring its military possible to a level that can be controlled by regional forces.
The situation is further compounded by the increasing engagement of another countries. According to reports from the Washington Post, Russia is providing Iran with intelligence that can aid find American forces in the mediate East, including ships and aircraft. If this information is confirmed, it will be the first clear signal that the conflict is beginning to snort indirectly besides another global rivals of the United States.
Comment: If the “war environment” continues to be so unfavourable to Donald Trump, it may turn out that its “star” will fade heavily.
