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The President’s Inbox

Gulf States Under Fire, With Mina Al-Oraibi

The President’s Inbox

Council on Foreign Relations

Politics, News:politics, News

4.4734 Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2026

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This episode unpacks how the war with Iran will affect the future of the Gulf countries’ security and economic prosperity.   Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR   Guest: Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief, The National   We Discuss: Whether Gulf states supported or opposed the war with Iran and their role in the intensive diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict before it began. How Iran’s retaliation expanded the war into the Gulf, targeting civilian infrastructure, energy hubs, and global transit points. The scale of drone and missile attacks across the region, and what they reveal about modern asymmetric warfare. Who is actually in charge in Iran, and how the IRGC is shaping decision-making and escalation. Why regime change in Iran remains unlikely, despite internal unrest and external pressure. Why Gulf leaders don’t want a simple ceasefire, but rather a long-term security reset that addresses Iran’s missile and drone programs. How the war is stress-testing Gulf economies and their long-term bets on stability, globalization, and diversification.     Mentioned on the Episode:   Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, July 14, 2015   Vibhu Mishra, "Security Council Adopts Gulf-Backed Resolution Condemning Iran Attacks; Russia Bid Fails," United Nations News   For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/presidents-inbox/gulf-states-under-fire   Opinions expressed on The President’s Inbox are solely those of the host or guests, not of CFR, which takes no institutional positions on matters of policy.

Transcript

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0:00.0

All the officials I've spoken to from the UAE had been clear that their messages in public were the same as those in private, which was, do not go to war.

0:11.5

Countries around the Gulf are reporting a new round of Iranian missile and drone attacks.

0:16.2

Across the region, as missile defences spring into action.

0:19.5

Schools are shut until further notice.

0:22.1

Here in Dubai, I mean this is a global commerce hub. It is an area where tourists

0:27.2

come. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait now face the

0:32.2

threat that their economies will be strangled and their civilian and commercial

0:35.7

infrastructure ruined. Did the Gulf states want the United States to attack Iran?

0:40.2

How are they reacting now that they have come under fire?

0:42.7

And what does the Iran War mean for the future of the Gulf security and economic prosperity?

0:48.2

From the Council on Foreign Relations, welcome to the president's inbox.

0:52.1

I'm Jim Lindsay.

0:53.4

Today I'm joined by Mina L. Aerebi,

0:55.9

editor-in-chief of the National in English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi covering regional affairs.

1:03.0

Mina, thank you very much for joining me.

1:05.2

Thank you for having me, Jeff.

1:07.4

Mina, I'd like to begin by asking you, what's the mood in Abu Dhabi right now?

1:13.1

So we have now entered the fifth week of this war.

1:19.0

There is both a sense of resilience, a sense of strength in Abu Dhabi.

1:25.1

Thankfully, the vast majority of missiles and drones that have been launched

1:30.4

from Iran onto the UAE and the wider Gulf since the 28th of February have been intercepted.

1:38.1

So there is a sense that this was the ultimate test and they're able to meet this test. But there's

...

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