Divide and Rule: Iran's Strategy to Prevent a Joint Response in the Gulf
The United Arab Emirates bore the brunt of Iranian attacks at the beginning of the confrontation, but Iran has changed direction and is tightening the noose around Bahrain and Kuwait • The goal is to…
Assessment
Iran is shifting its military pressure within the Gulf, moving from targeting the UAE to focusing on Bahrain and Kuwait. The strategy exploits historical rivalries and the small size of these states to create panic without provoking a unified military response from Gulf nations. The key question is whether this divide-and-conquer approach will succeed in fragmenting the Gulf Cooperation Council's cohesion.