This satellite tv for pc picture offered by Vantor exhibits harm after a drone assault at Ras Tanura oil refinery, in Saudi Arabia on March 2, 2026.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Iran’s relations with Arab Gulf states would require a “critical evaluate” in gentle of the U.S.-Israeli struggle on Iran, limiting the facility of exterior actors so the area can turn out to be affluent, Tehran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia informed Reuters on Sunday (March 15, 2026).
Requested if he was involved that relations could be harmed by the struggle, Ambassador Alireza Enayati stated: “It’s a sound query, and the reply could also be easy. We’re neighbors and we can’t do with out one another; we will want a critical evaluate.” “What the area has witnessed over the previous 5 a long time is the results of an exclusionary strategy [within the region] and an extreme reliance on exterior powers,” he stated in a written response to questions, calling for deeper ties between the Gulf Cooperation Council’s six members, together with Iraq and Iran.
Iran-Israel struggle updates on March 15, 2026
Gulf Arab states have confronted extra than 2,000 missile and drone assaults for the reason that outbreak of the struggle on February 28, with targets together with U.S. diplomatic missions and navy bases but in addition crucial Gulf oil infrastructure, ports, airports, motels and residential and workplace buildings. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Iran’s arch-foe Israel in 2020, has confronted the brunt of the assaults. However all Gulf Arab states have been impacted, and all have condemned Iran.
Behind the scenes, analysts and regional sources say there may be additionally rising frustration on the U.S., lengthy their safety guarantor, at dragging them right into a struggle they didn’t endorse however for which they’re paying a hefty value. In Saudi Arabia, assaults have been targeting the japanese area the place a lot of the kingdom’s oil is produced, in addition to the Prince Sultan Airbase internet hosting U.S. forces east of Riyadh, and the Diplomatic Quarter on the Saudi capital’s western edge, in accordance with Saudi protection ministry statements. Saudi Arabia and Iran re-established full diplomatic relations in 2023 after years of enmity that noticed them again rival political and navy factions throughout the area.
Iran not answerable for assaults on Saudi oil sector
Enayati denied that Iran was answerable for the assaults on Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure, together with the Ras Tanura refinery on the east coast and dozens of tried drone assaults on the Shaybah oil discipline within the desert close to the UAE border.
“Iran will not be the get together answerable for these assaults, and if Iran had carried them out, it will have introduced it,” he stated. He didn’t say who had carried out the assaults. Saudi Protection Ministry statements haven’t assigned blame for particular person incidents. Enayati stated Iran was solely attacking U.S. and Israeli targets and pursuits.
Enayati stated he personally was in ongoing contact with Saudi officers, with relations “progressing naturally” in lots of areas. He highlighted Saudi cooperation concerning the departure of Iranians who had been within the kingdom for non secular pilgrimage and the availability of medical help to others. He stated Tehran was in touch with Riyadh concerning Saudi Arabia’s publicly said place that its land, sea and air wouldn’t be used to assault Iran, with out elaborating on the discussions.
His message to Gulf states was that the struggle “has been imposed on us and the area.”
To resolve the battle, the U.S. and Israel should halt their assaults and regional nations shouldn’t be concerned, whereas worldwide ensures should be secured to stop their recurrence, he stated.
“Solely then can we concentrate on constructing a affluent area,” he stated.
Printed – March 16, 2026 03:17 am IST