It has become clear that the war waged by Iran is directed against Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, not against the US or Israel. Iran has attacked the Kingdom with more than 1,000 drones since last February, in addition to ballistic missiles that have targeted civilian and military facilities. The Iranians have widened the war through the territories of two countries, Iraq and Yemen, in a bid to surround Saudi Arabia. Riyadh, in contrast, surprised Tehran by establishing a bloc uniting three countries bordering Iran. Today, the alliance tips the balance of power against Iran.

The Saudis are bracing for a possible major Houthi attack as the Iran war widens. Meanwhile, Iran and Oman are finalizing a deal on the Strait of Hormuz. Follow for the latest…

Iran has issued its first major public response to the new Saudi Arabia–Turkey–Pakistan defence agreement, with Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei calling it a “paper…