Letters | Why some Arab states refuse to side with either Israel or Iran

Readers discuss the deteriorating crisis in the Middle East and the implications of a wider conflict

Reading Time:4 minutes

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, on October 4. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 11:30am, 17 Oct 2024

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification

If ongoing wars escalate in the Middle East to the point where Iran gets more directly involved, some might expect countries united by religion and geography to stand with Tehran. However, the geopolitical fabric of the region is much more complicated than one would expect. If all-out war breaks out, Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates are unlikely to support Iran at any cost to themselves.

Due in part to ideological differences and conflicting regional ambitions, some Arab governments view Iran as an adversary. Riyadh and Tehran have only recently begun to mend ties. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Saudi Arabia has pursued even closer ties with the United States. However, Arab nations won’t explicitly support Israel either.

One reason lies in Arab public opinion, which is sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. If Arab governments explicitly support Israel in its war against the Palestinians, this could reduce the legitimacy of their leaders in the eyes of the public.

Second, in the event of a wider war directly involving Iran, governments supporting Israel could be seen as aggressors. While the US has backed the security interests of Iran’s neighbours, there is no guarantee it always will.

Another reason is geographical proximity to Iran. Arab nations would not want an immediate neighbour to turn aggressive. A full-scale regional war would be a burden on their treasuries. Moreover, given Iranian ties to Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah – groups that pose real or perceived challenges to Arab governments – it is best not to explicitly take sides.