In a striking irony, Oman, long seen as a key regional mediator and a trusted channel of communication between Washington and Tehran, has found itself under pressure from its own American ally, after Trump threatened to “blow it up” if it aligned with Iran on the sensitive issue of the Strait of Hormuz.

Rising regional tensions are driving interest in competing and potentially complementary rail corridors, especially Saudi Arabia’s Hejaz–Istanbul route and Iraq’s Development Road, with Iraq’s project hinging on stability and geopolitical conditions.

Southern Yemen remains unstable as Saudi Arabia manages competing local actors by containing, rather than dismantling, the STC, which still retains significant political and military influence despite dissolution efforts and emerging rivals.

Gulf anger toward Iraq is rising fast over attacks launched from its territory since the U.S. began its war on Iran, with tensions escalating further after Kuwait was struck on April 24, reviving urgent questions about Iraq’s relations with its Arab neighbors after years of cautious improvement.

Syria is re-emerging on the regional and international radar not just as a theater of conflict, but as a potential player in reshaping supply chains between East and West.