Riyadh: The ongoing war in West Asia is now reaching a new turning point. Iran’s continued missile and drone attacks have increased the concerns of Gulf countries, and Saudi Arabia’s patience appears to be running out. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has warned Iran that his country and its allies are running out of patience. Prince Faisal stated that Iran should immediately reconsider its strategy. He also hinted that if the attacks do not stop, Saudi Arabia and its allies will not hesitate to retaliate.
According to media reports, Prince Faisal said, “We want to make it clear that we have enormous capabilities and power. If we wish, we can use them.” Although he did not specify when or under what circumstances Saudi Arabia would respond, his statement clearly indicates that the situation has become sensitive. Prince Faisal accused Iran of not carrying out these attacks suddenly, but with careful planning.
It should be noted that Iran targeted several key energy installations in Gulf countries on Wednesday. Qatar’s Ras Laffan gas plant, one of the world’s largest LNG facilities, was attacked. Qatar strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of open aggression. The UAE’s Habshan gas plant was also targeted, forcing a temporary suspension of operations. According to the UAE’s Ministry of Defense, its air defenses shot down 13 ballistic missiles and 27 drones.
Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia was also spared. The Saudi Defense Ministry stated that its air defenses intercepted four missiles headed toward Riyadh, while two were fired toward the country’s eastern region. Iran, explaining its reasons for the attacks, said they were in response to Israel’s attack on its South Pars gas field. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had warned that if attacked, oil and gas facilities in Gulf countries would be targeted. However, Saudi Arabia and its allies reject this claim, arguing that Iran is deliberately trying to engulf the entire region in war.
Prince Faisal also stated that even if this war ends one day, restoring trust with Iran will be extremely difficult. He warned that Iran’s actions have completely shattered trust. If it doesn’t stop immediately, normalizing relations in the future will be impossible. He also claimed that Iran has been developing a strategy for the past decade, which involves targeting neighboring countries to create international pressure. This entire development has made it clear that the Gulf region is no longer a mere spectator, but is directly embroiled in this conflict. If Iran’s attacks don’t stop, this conflict could escalate further in the coming days.
