As the Iran-US war escalates, Tehran’s indiscriminate attack on Gulf countries, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is threatening to widen the conflict. As per unconfirmed reports, Saudi Arabia is prepared to respond militarily if Iranian attacks on its territory continue.
Saudi Arabia was among the seven Gulf countries that condemned Iran over its missile and drone attacks across the region. As per reports, Saudi armed forces are prepared to respond militarily to Iran should Tehran continue its attacks on Saudi territory.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had been focusing on reducing diplomatic relations, is moving towards a "defensive-offensive" approach, giving its forces the green light to respond to any missile or drone attack inside Iranian territory, according to Iran International.
However, no official source in Saudi Arabia has confirmed this report, and authorities in Riyadh have not issued any official response to these allegations. However, the Saudi Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador to the Kingdom, Ali Reza Enayati, on Sunday to inform him of the Kingdom’s official and strong protest against what it described as “Iran’s brazen attacks” on the city of Riyadh and the eastern regions of the Kingdom.
The Crown Prince reportedly referred to the attacks carried out by Iran against targets near the capital Riyadh and in the east of the country as cowardly acts. He said that Iran acted in this way, knowing that Saudi airspace was not being used to carry out attacks against it, and therefore, he had the right to use force to respond to future Iranian aggression.
Israeli media also reported that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held an urgent phone call with bin Salman in an attempt to coordinate positions in the face of what appears to be a collapse in the regional balance of power. Erdogan, who often incites sharply against Israel and even provides sanctuary to senior Hamas figures, did not hide his deep concern. He made it clear to bin Salman that without immediate intervention, the current escalation could lead to "very serious consequences" for global security. He said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia must lead a diplomatic line that will prevent the collapse of stability in the region.
Analysts believe that Saudi Arabia could benefit from attacking Tehran, which could weaken Hamas and strengthen a leadership that fits the Saudi vision. If the regime in Tehran collapses or is replaced by a more pragmatic leadership, Saudi Arabia would be left with almost no real regional competitor. Its influence would expand, and the Sunni axis led by it would become the dominant axis in the Middle East.
But, the risk is enormous: if the campaign gets complicated, if Iran survives, or if a broad regional war develops, it could pay a heavy price. Oil infrastructure and strategic facilities have already proven their vulnerability in the past.
