The Trump administration’s efforts to force Tehran to make concessions by squeezing its economy depend heavily on restricting one of its most important economic lifelines through the UAE.

Throughout his war on Iran, Trump repeatedly stressed the need for Washington’s Gulf allies to become more deeply involved in a regional strategy to counter what he described as "the Iranian threat."

As part of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 16, 2026, the appointment of General Jasper Jeffers to lead the newly established International Stabilization Force in the Gaza Strip.

Another form of occupation? U.S. advance forces arrive in "Israel" to monitor Trump’s Gaza plan.

Amid the Israeli aggression on Qatar, urgent questions arose over Washington’s complicity and whether the Gulf states that normalized relations would go so far as to cut ties with the Israeli Occupation in defense of the Gulf system and its much-touted unity.