A bombshell report from the Washington Post (WaPo) on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, reveals that America’s primary Gulf allies—led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—are privately lobbying President Donald Trump to maintain military pressure on Iran. Despite the public calls for a ceasefire at the “Islamabad Track” negotiations, regional leaders have reportedly warned the White House that Tehran remains a potent threat and has not yet been “sufficiently weakened.”
The “Private vs. Public” Divide
According to high-level diplomatic cables and interviews with senior administration officials, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations are expressing a much more hawkish stance in private than their public “neutrality” suggests.
- The “Job Half-Done” Fear: Gulf officials reportedly told National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien that ending the war now would leave Iran’s core IRGC structure and missile production capabilities intact.
- Targeting the “Head of the Snake”: One senior Saudi official quoted in the WaPo report argued that “stopping now only allows them to rebuild and retaliate later. The job must be finished once and for all.”
- The Kuwait Factor: The recent Iranian drone strike on a Kuwaiti oil tanker in Dubai and the deadly attack on a desalination plant have reportedly hardened the resolve of regional capitals to see Iran’s “infrastructure war” capabilities permanently dismantled.
Dissecting the “Insufficiently Weakened” Argument
The Gulf allies’ assessment stands in contrast to the White House’s recent “more reasonable” rhetoric regarding new Iranian leadership.
- Missile Stockpiles: Intelligence shared by regional partners suggests that while the U.S. has hit over 11,000 targets, Iran still retains roughly 40% of its mobile ballistic missile launchers hidden in “missile cities” deep underground.
- The “Hormuz Toll” Leverage: UAE officials warned that allowing Iran to maintain any form of the newly legislated Strait of Hormuz “transit fees” would be a strategic defeat for the global economy and a permanent revenue stream for the IRGC.
- Proxy Resilience: There is significant concern that Iran’s regional proxies remain largely operational and could be activated for a “coordinated uprising” across the Middle East if the U.S. withdraws its heavy assets too early.
Trump’s Dilemma: Business vs. War
The WaPo report highlights a growing tension within the Trump administration’s “Maximum Pressure” 2.0 strategy.
- The Financial Ask: This lobbying effort coincides with the White House’s request for Arab nations to fund the $200 billion war bill. While the Gulf states want the war to continue, they are reportedly using their financial leverage to demand “ironclad security guarantees” and a permanent U.S. presence.
- The “April 6” Deadline: President Trump has set a firm deadline for a “deal or destruction” scenario. The Gulf allies are reportedly pushing for the “destruction” option if Iran does not agree to a total dismantling of its missile and nuclear programs—a demand far beyond the current 15-point proposal.
| Nation | Strategic Priority (per WaPo) | Key Concern |
| Saudi Arabia | Permanent degradation of IRGC | Survival of the “missile threat” |
| UAE | Security of maritime trade routes | Iranian “toll” system in Hormuz |
| Kuwait | Protection of desalination/oil | Targeted “infrastructure war” |
| USA (Trump) | “A Great Deal” or “Total Victory” | Domestic cost of $200B war bill |
A “Dangerous Opportunity”
The WaPo analysis concludes that the Middle East is at its most volatile point in a generation. By urging the U.S. to “continue the war,” the Gulf allies are betting that the Trump administration can achieve what decades of sanctions could not: the total neutralization of the Islamic Republic as a regional power. However, as the Financial Times recently warned, a “stronger and more dangerous” Iran could still emerge if the coalition fails to land a decisive blow before the “Islamabad Track” peace talks reach their climax.
