Trump's Iran Deal Strains Ties With Key Gulf Allies

WHO:

Alternet - President Trump, UAE officials, Mohammed Baharoon (director general of B’huth), Omar Al Busaidy (businessman), Khalaf Al Habtoor (Emirati billionaire), Nasser Hassan Al Shaikh (businessman, former UAE government official), Khaled Al Kaabi (wastewater engineer), Marco Rubio (US Secretary of State).

CNN - Gulf leaders, King of Saudi Arabia, Hasan Alhasan (senior fellow at IISS), a senior Gulf diplomat, Firas Maksad (managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at Eurasia Group).

WHAT:

Alternet - President Trump’s decision to wage war on Iran has led to frustration among Gulf allies, with UAE residents expressing feelings of being “played.”

Alternet - Omar Al Busaidy stated, “I’m not going to lie, I had high hopes... But we got played.”

CNN - The US, alongside Israel, launched a war against Iran, leading to retaliatory attacks across the Gulf.

CNN - The emerging US-Iran agreement includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, which Gulf states have not fully committed to.

WHERE:

Alternet - United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dubai.

CNN - Gulf region, Qatar (Doha), Strait of Hormuz.

WHEN:

CNN - President Trump’s first official trip abroad was in May 2025.

CNN - The US-Iran peace plan is discussed following a weekend in Switzerland.

WHY:

Alternet - Gulf officials had tried to dissuade the US from launching the war against Iran.

CNN - Gulf states are concerned that the emerging agreement with Iran may leave them worse off and reflects a “major loss of confidence in the US.”

HOW:

CNN - Gulf states are contemplating a future in which Washington plays a smaller role in regional security, considering alternatives like Turkey for military procurement.

CNN - The US-Iran agreement grants Tehran a formal role in overseeing commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 17:46 UTC)

President Trump's decision to wage war on Iran has sparked frustration among Gulf allies, particularly in the UAE, where residents feel they have been “played,” according to businessman Omar Al Busaidy. This conflict, which has seen the US and Israel launch attacks against Iran, has led to a proposed US-Iran agreement that includes a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, though Gulf states remain hesitant to fully commit. As discussions continue, Gulf officials are considering a future where Washington's influence in regional security diminishes, exploring alternatives like Turkey for military procurement.