Iran's Asymmetric Strategy Faces Sustainability Questions

Middle Eastern outlets stress that Gulf Cooperation Council states, not Israel, are bearing most of Iran’s drone and missile fire, exposing ports, oil sites and cities. They portray Iran’s asymmetric tactics as deliberately using regional states and shipping lanes as pressure points against Washington and Tel Aviv. Commentators in the region worry that Trump’s ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz and talk of US action against enriched uranium could turn the Gulf into the main battlefield and disrupt global energy flows.

• •Around 83% of Iran’s recent drone and missile attacks have struck GCC countries while only 17% have hit Israel.
• •Gulf ports, oil terminals and urban areas are increasingly at risk from Iranian strikes and possible misfires.
• •Iran uses threats to close or restrict the Strait of Hormuz to pressure the US and its partners.
• •Regional governments fear that a US operation against Iranian nuclear sites or enriched uranium stores would invite Iranian retaliation on their territory.
• •Civilian populations in Gulf cities are experiencing air‑raid alerts and disruptions as Iran and the US trade strikes.