A double-edged sword

For the Gulf states, US President Donald Trump’s potential deal to end the Iran war threatens to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, Gulf states would welcome ending a conflict that has jeopardised their economic diversification and development plans, shattered perceptions of the Gulf as a wealthy island of stability that hosts global transportation and finance hubs and data centres, and has seriously damaged oil and gas installations that remain the backbone of their economies. It would also spare them from having to retaliate against Iran for its missile and drone attacks more aggressively. On the other hand, the Gulf states fear that whatever deal Mr. Trump may conclude will fail to remove Iran as an imminent threat.