Iran War Daily — The Gulf Report
Issue No. 3 | Covering Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Oil, Strait of Hormuz, and Stock Markets
Oil Price Update: As of the market close on March 3, 2026, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled at $75.54 per barrel, representing a 6.05% increase from the previous day’s close. Investing.com.
“Hormuz ship traffic down 94pc since Iran conflict began.” Argus Media, March 3, 2026.
“LNG shutdown sinks Qatar stocks but Tadawul rebounds.” AGBI, March 3, 2026.
“UAE Capital Market Authority announces closure of UAE capital markets on Monday, 2 March, and Tuesday, 3 March 2026.” Emirates News Agency (WAM), March 3, 2026.
States’ Updates
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
“Iran blames Israel for Saudi Aramco drone attack, calls it ‘false flag’.” Middle East Monitor, March 3, 2026.
🇦🇪 UAE
“UAE spent $1bn a day downing missiles and drones, analysts say.” AGBI, March 4, 2026.
“UAE considers striking Iranian missile sites as regional war spreads.” Axios, March 3, 2026.
🇶🇦 Qatar
“Qatar says it found two spy cells linked to Iran’s IRGC, 10 suspects arrested.” Al Arabiya, March 4, 2026.
🇴🇲 Oman
“Oman's Duqm port targeted by drones with no injuries reported.” Gulf News, March 4, 2026.
🇰🇼 Kuwait
"Kuwait says two navy soldiers killed during 'operation' by armed forces” Khaleej Times, March 3, 2026.
🇧🇭 Bahrain
“Uprising in Bahrain? Pro-Iran clashes break out as Iran claims US base strike.”, Türkiye Today, March 3, 2026.
Defense Summary
Public Opinion
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
“The most dangerous wars are those in which you win the battle but lose the objective. The 2003 Iraq war weakened Baghdad but expanded Iran influence. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan exhausted Moscow and helped pave the way for its collapse. The First World War ended empires but laid the groundwork for an even bloodier conflict. The 1956 Tripartite Aggression sought to topple Gamal Abdel Nasser but instead strengthened his position. I fear the current war against Iran may meet the same fate: Washington may win a military round, while the region loses its stability for many long years.”
Dawood Alshirian, X, March 3, 2026.
“Power lies on the ground, not in the sky or at sea, where the bombardment comes from. Air strikes do not bring down regimes. History and the present provide ample evidence to support this claim. Netanyahu and Trump strategy so far is harmful to the Gulf, harmful to Iran neighbors, and short-sighted.”
Hesham Alghannam, X, March 3, 2026.
🇦🇪 UAE
“The question of the hour: Why is Iran directing the full weight of its anger toward the Gulf states, and why this particular hostility toward the United Arab Emirates, which in particular was targeted by about 65 percent of Iran total drones and missiles, even though not a single bullet, drone, or missile launcher was launched toward Iran from the UAE or the rest of the region?”
Abdulkhaleq Abdullah, X, March 3, 2026.
“All the harm that has affected the Gulf states has come from large neighboring Muslim countries. The United States relationship with us is clear and governed by agreements, and the same applies to Britain, France, Russia, and China. Those who lecture us and demand that we expel foreign bases are the very same people who applaud Iran when it attacks us, and who applauded others during previous acts of aggression.”
Abdullah Alneaimi, X, March 3, 2026.
🇶🇦 Qatar
“My hatred for Iran stems from the fact that it is waging war against my homeland, Qatar. Any attempt to justify this aggression or soften it under another description I consider support for the enemy of my country.
But it is foolish to interpret my hatred for Iran as support for the Zionists and their killing of innocent people in Iran.
And my admiration for Iran striking Tel Aviv is not support for Iran, but rather hatred for the Zionist occupier of my Arab land. Do you understand?”
Hassan Hamoud, X, March 3, 2026.
“Qatar has not been part of the campaign targeting Iran. We are exercising our right in self defense and deterring Iranian attacks against our country. We urge media outlets to use credible Qataris sources when reporting on Qatar.”
Majed Al Ansari, X, March 3, 2026.
🇴🇲 Oman
“All American soldiers should be expelled from the hotels and countries of the Gulf in order to preserve our security and the security of our peoples.
Let them go to the pens of the scum in Tel Aviv.
We have nothing to do with their dirty war or their treachery in negotiations.”
Naser Busaidi, X, March 3, 2026.
“Question: What have the Gulf states gained from their security and trade agreements with the United States and Britain, when we know that the West mobilizes everything in the region to serve the interests of ‘Israel’?”
Rashid Alsaidi, X, March 3, 2026.
🇰🇼 Kuwait
“The Trump administration strategy continues to stumble.
Their latest “innovation” in attempting to bring down the regime after launching an unlawful war against Iran: according to American sources, the Trump administration is arming and preparing Kurdish militias to lead a rebellion and uprising aimed at destabilizing security and stability inside #Iran, while at the same time bombing with Israel to shake the foundations of the regime and its institutions.
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guard has expanded its operations and begun striking Kurdish positions.”
Abdullah Alshayji, X, March 3, 2026.
“The presence of American bases is absolutely necessary—indeed, more important than an unproductive citizen.
The presence of American bases means:
After God, we are safe from bad neighbors.
Our investments and sovereign wealth funds are secure.
Our oil is easily sold, and our livelihood reaches us with our heads held high.
Our American weapons, which protect our skies after God Almighty, ensure that you can drink tea and tweet on Twitter with ease and peace of mind.
Our medicine and food reach us smoothly and safely.”
Waleed Alyaseen, X, March 3, 2026.
🇧🇭 Bahrain
“These new leaders in the Revolutionary Guard have been instructed to completely ignore what is happening around them inside Iran. It does not concern them that their skies are violated, that the bombing continues against their headquarters, their facilities, and whatever remains visible of their missiles, and so on. Nor does it concern them that there are meetings and deliberations among the political leadership trying to find a way out to salvage what can still be saved. They are operating according to the instructions that were fed to them, based on the situation that existed prior to the death of the leadership.”
Sawsan Alshaer, Al Watan, March 3, 2026.
“The strength of the Gulf house is not measured only by military capabilities or strategic alliances. It is measured first by unity of position, the solidity of the internal front, and the rallying of the people around their leadership. Recent events have proven that betting on the fragmentation of the Gulf ranks is a losing wager, and that attempts to tamper with the region’s security only make its states more cohesive and united.”
Ebrahim Alnaham, Al Bilad, March 4, 2026.
Issue No. 4 will cover Wednesday, March 4, 2026.