According to a report by Al Jazeera on July 16, 2026, Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media, said Iran believes recent US attacks originated from the airspace and territory of neighbouring Middle Eastern countries, a view that Tehran says gives it the “right to retaliate” against those states. His remarks come as tensions continue to rise following the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Shabani said Iranian leaders see the conflict as a direct war with Washington rather than a limited military confrontation. Based on that perspective, Tehran is expected to respond against any country that it believes has supported US military operations by providing access to its airspace, military facilities or territory.
“The way they’re seeing it, they’re in a war with the United States, and they’re going to continue to retaliate against any country that offers facilities or its airspace or soil for attacks on Iran,” said Mohammad Ali Shabani, editor of Amwaj.media.
He explained that this position reflects Iran’s broader interpretation of regional involvement in the conflict, suggesting that countries perceived as assisting the United States could become targets of future retaliation if Tehran believes they played a role in the attacks.
Shabani also pointed to the Gulf states’ strategic interests, saying they prefer to maintain stable and friendly ties with Iran because of their close geographic proximity. He noted that preserving regional security remains a key concern for those governments as hostilities continue.
The analyst added that Gulf countries are seeking diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation across the region. There is an “impetus to have some kind of engagement” to end the US-Israel war on Iran for the Gulf countries, Shabani said. He indicated that regional leaders are increasingly interested in efforts that could reduce tensions and restore stability through dialogue rather than prolonged military confrontation…See_More
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