Podcast · Boundless Insights
Why Saudi Arabia and the UAE didn’t strike back at Iran
Ambassador Michael Oren joins the Boundless Insights podcast to explain why America’s Gulf allies stood down — and what their hesitation reveals about the future of the regional alliance.
Ambassador Michael Oren · June 3, 2026 · Boundless Insights
When Iran threatened to strike, the world watched to see who would respond. Saudi Arabia and the UAE — two of the most powerful military actors in the Gulf, and two of the states most exposed to Iranian aggression — stayed silent. Why?
In a new episode of the Boundless Insights podcast, host Aviva Klompas put that question directly to former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren. His answer was pointed: the Gulf states weren’t confident the United States would stay the course. That single uncertainty — would Washington remain engaged if things escalated? — was enough to keep both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi on the sidelines.
It is a striking admission about the architecture of Middle East security. The Abraham Accords reshaped the diplomatic map, but they did not create a self-sustaining alliance. The Gulf states’ willingness to act — or to be seen acting alongside Israel — still runs through Washington. Absent a clear American signal, the calculus tips toward restraint.
Ambassador Oren brings to this conversation the rare perspective of someone who served at the center of U.S.–Israel diplomacy for years. His analysis cuts through the noise of the headlines and gets to the structural question underneath: what does it actually take to hold a regional coalition together when the pressure is real?
Originally published on Boundless Insights with Aviva Klompas. Available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and all major platforms.
