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'Trust Completely Shattered': Saudi Arabia Warns Iran of Military Retaliation as Gulf Crisis Deepens

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister declares trust with Iran "completely shattered" after weeks of missile and drone attacks on Gulf states, warning the Kingdom reserves the right to take military action. Meanwhile, Gulf allies are privately urging the Trump administration to keep up pressure on Tehran.

A Turning Point in Gulf Relations

The carefully reconstructed diplomacy between Saudi Arabia and Iran lies in ruins. Speaking at an emergency meeting of Arab nations in Riyadh, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan delivered a stark message: the “little trust” Iran had rebuilt with its Arab neighbours was now “completely shattered.”

His words carried the weight of seven weeks of relentless attacks. Since February 28, when the US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran began, Tehran has retaliated by launching over 1,500 strikes against targets across Israel and the Gulf states — nations that, in Iran’s framing, are collateral damage in its war with Washington.

The Gulf Under Fire

The scale of the attacks has been staggering. Iran has fired missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman — countries that host US military bases but are not direct combatants in the conflict.

Saudi Arabia alone has intercepted hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. Four ballistic missiles were launched at Riyadh in a single day. Two Saudi oil refineries were struck, which Prince Faisal described as “a blatant attempt at blackmail.”

The UAE has borne the brunt, suffering more than 2,300 missile and drone attacks. Kuwait reported 28 drones in a single wave targeting oil installations and power stations, causing “severe material damage” at Kuwait Petroleum Corporation facilities and three power plants. Bahrain saw fires at energy facilities on Sitra Island. Qatar intercepted seven ballistic missiles. A strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG plant wiped out 17% of its output — damage that could take years to fully repair.

Ceasefire That Wasn’t

On April 7, the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, contingent on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Within hours, missiles were again raining down on the Gulf.

Iranian state television confirmed the post-ceasefire strikes, saying they were in response to continued bombing of Iranian oil facilities. Tehran’s ambassador to Pakistan warned Gulf states to “pay attention to their conditions and relations with Iran,” adding ominously that “sooner or later America will leave this region by accepting defeat, and you will stay.”

The ceasefire violations may reflect Iran’s decentralized military command rather than deliberate policy, as some analysts have suggested. But for Gulf capitals under fire, the distinction matters little.

Running Low on Defenses

The sustained barrage is draining Gulf military stockpiles at an alarming rate. By late March, the UAE and Kuwait had spent roughly 75% of their Patriot missile interceptor inventories. Bahrain was estimated to have depleted as much as 87%.

Iran’s strategy appears calculated: cheaper drones launched in swarms overwhelm air defense systems designed primarily for ballistic missiles. Gulf states are burning through multi-million-dollar interceptors to shoot down weapons that cost a fraction of the price.

Gulf Allies Push Back — in Private

Behind closed doors, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are taking a harder line than their public statements suggest. According to AP reporting, Gulf officials have privately urged President Trump to continue the military campaign against Iran, arguing that Tehran has not been sufficiently weakened to guarantee regional security.

The UAE has emerged as the most hawkish voice, reportedly pushing for a ground invasion. Saudi Arabia has argued that ending the war now won’t produce a “good deal” — one that guarantees security for Iran’s Arab neighbors. Only Oman and Qatar, traditional intermediaries between Tehran and the West, favor a diplomatic solution.

UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash captured the mood: “We don’t want animosity with Iran, but with this regime, there is no trust.”

What Comes Next

Saudi Arabia’s warning that it “reserves the right to take military actions if necessary” marks a significant escalation in rhetoric. The Kingdom has so far played a defensive role, intercepting incoming threats rather than striking back. That calculus may be shifting.

The two-week ceasefire window is closing. US-Iran talks in Islamabad have reportedly stalled over disagreements on Iran’s uranium stockpile and the mechanics of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. With interceptor stockpiles dwindling and trust at zero, the Gulf states face an increasingly difficult choice: continue absorbing attacks while diplomacy plays out, or take matters into their own hands.

For now, Saudi Arabia is making its position clear. As Prince Faisal put it: “The Kingdom is not going to succumb to pressure.” Whether those words translate into direct military action against Iran — something that would reshape the Middle East overnight — remains the most consequential question in the region.

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