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Dubai, June 22, 2025 – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are on high alert following U.S. military strikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, raising fears of escalating conflict in the region, Reuters reported on Sunday. The strikes, which U.S. President Donald Trump claimed “completely destroyed” Iran’s primary nuclear sites, have heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, where U.S. military bases are stationed across several nations.
In a televised address from the White House on Saturday night, President Trump warned Tehran of “even more severe consequences” if it fails to comply with peace negotiations. The U.S. action has prompted Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, to adopt stringent security measures.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, implemented heightened security protocols on Sunday. Bahrain’s government urged drivers to avoid main roads to ensure public safety and facilitate security operations. Kuwait has begun preparing shelters in various ministry buildings, while Bahrain established 33 shelters and directed 70% of government employees to work from home until further notice, according to the country’s Civil Service Bureau.
Iran has repeatedly warned that any U.S. attack would lead to retaliatory strikes on American assets in the region, including military bases. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain, with additional U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
Nuclear authorities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE stated that no signs of nuclear contamination have been detected following the U.S. strikes. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, in a post on X, called on citizens to avoid major roads unless necessary to ensure effective use by authorities and maintain public safety.
Hasan Al-Hasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), warned that direct conflict between the U.S. and Iran risks drawing Gulf states—particularly Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar—into a prolonged regional conflict.
AI/MR
