Muslims are getting united…Gulf witnessing major change as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar getting closer to Iran, how will this impact world politics?

The Muslim-majority world has often struggled to act as a unified geopolitical bloc despite the presence of 57 member states in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Regional rivalries, competing security priorities, and differing foreign policy approaches have historically shaped relations among countries in West Asia and the broader Islamic world.

For decades, several Gulf countries maintained cautious or strained ties with Iran because of ideological differences, regional competition, and concerns over Tehran’s influence across the Middle East. During this period, many Gulf countries relied on the United States for protection and security, as the US had many military bases and troops stationed in the region.

However, the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the US has triggered renewed debate in several regional capitals over long-term security arrangements and the future of Gulf diplomacy.

Qatar calls for including Iran in Gulf security discussions

Speaking on Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Gulf countries were exploring the possibility of creating a broader regional security framework that includes Iran.

“Our goal is to create a security framework between Iran and the countries of the Gulf region,” he said, adding that Qatar was pursuing cooperation with Tehran in areas such as energy and regional stability.

The remarks come amid wider diplomatic activity across the region and ongoing discussions over the future of security arrangements in the Gulf.

Which countries are engaging with Iran?

UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently taken a more practical approach towards Iran while still keeping strong ties with Western countries. The UAE wants to continue trade and business with Iran and believes that peace and talks are important for the region.

The UAE has also said that it does not want its land to be used for attacks against Iran. Trade between the two countries has continued even during times of tension.

Qatar

Qatar has often acted as a middleman to help solve disputes in the Middle East. It keeps good relations with both Iran and the United States and supports talks between countries to reduce tensions.

Qatar and Iran also share the world’s largest natural gas field, so cooperation on energy is very important for both countries.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia and Iran restarted diplomatic relations in 2023 after an agreement helped by China. This was a major change after many years of rivalry and tension.

Although the two countries still disagree on some issues, Saudi Arabia now supports talks and peaceful solutions. Experts believe both countries want to reduce tensions and bring more stability to the region.

Oman

Iran and Oman has always a friendly relations with each other and has often helped both sides talk during difficult times.

Oman supports solving problems through discussions and has worked on issues related to the safety of ships and trade routes in the Gulf region.

Bahrain

Bahrain has traditionally been closer to Saudi Arabia and the United States and has been more careful in dealing with Iran.

However, Bahrain also supports diplomatic efforts and talks aimed at reducing tensions and keeping the region stable.

Iraq

It has strong economic ties with Iran, especially in the energy sector. Iraq imports a large amount of natural gas from Iran to produce electricity.

At the same time, Iraq tries to maintain good relations with both Iran and the United States.

Pakistan

Pakistan shares a long border with Iran and has generally maintained friendly working relations with Tehran. It also has close ties with Gulf countries and the United States.

Pakistan has often called for dialogue and peaceful solutions to reduce tensions in the region.

Kuwait

Kuwait believes in solving problems through talks and diplomacy. It supports efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Gulf and keeps communication with Iran open.

For Kuwait, keeping trade and energy supplies moving smoothly through the Gulf is very important.

Can the Muslim world unite on a common platform?

Fully uniting the 57 OIC countries on a single political or military platform is currently considered extremely difficult. This is because their interests, security concerns, and foreign policies differ significantly.

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