Saudi Arabia - UAE Condemn Iran Attack, War Escalation Near World Energy Hub

A patrol boat belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz. (ANTARA/Xinhua/aa)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have begun taking a stance against Iran amid the widening war in the region. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Monday condemned Iran's attacks on the Gulf countries as a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security.

Launching Arab News, Monday, March 16, the two leaders spoke by phone and stressed that the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC would not remain silent. They expressed their readiness to deploy all available capabilities to defend their respective territories and maintain regional stability.

The attitude came as Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, sought to deny accusations against Tehran. In a post on X, he claimed "enemies" - referring to the United States and Israel - were using drones disguised as Iranian-made Shahed drones with the name "Lucas drone". Enayati also insisted that Iran only targets US and Israeli interests, not the Gulf countries.

But the rebuttal did little to allay suspicions. Since the war broke out on February 28, the Gulf states are said to have faced thousands of missile and drone attacks targeting energy facilities, airports, ports, and civilian areas. That makes the tension no longer stop at the Iran-US and Israel war, but starts to put pressure on the security of the Gulf countries.

For Indonesia, this development is important because the point of tension is in the Gulf region and near the Strait of Hormuz, a route that is usually used by about a fifth of the world's oil supply. If the attack continues, the risk is not only on the stability of the region, but also on global energy supply and logistics costs.

Last week, the UN Security Council also adopted a resolution supported by 13 of 15 members and co-sponsored by 135 countries to condemn Iran's attacks and demand an immediate cessation of hostilities.