Europe should give Gulf allies more support as Iran conflict escalates, says analyst

Record ID: 2360690

  • Title: Europe should give Gulf allies more support as Iran conflict escalates, says analyst
  • Date: 3rd March 2026
  • Summary: KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT (MARCH 3, 2026)(REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE)(English) ASSOCIATE FELLOW - MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAMME AT CHATHAM HOUSE, BADER AL-SAIF, SAYING:     "I wouldn't read too much into it, to be honest. We've heard more damaging statements on other leaders and on Starmer in the past as well. So I think it just comes as part of the playbook that is on display
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Chatham House analyst Iran conflict Israel United States
  • Location: KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • City: KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT / LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: Iran
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA004049203032026RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: European nations need to offer more support to their partner and allies in the Gulf, said a Middle East analyst from Chatham House to Reuters on Tuesday (March 3).
        Bader Al-Saif said that Europe offering support in the Middle East does not mean joining the war, but Europe needed to make its position clear to their partners instead of relying on the United States.
        On Saturday (February 28), Germany, France and Britain released a joint statement condemning Iranian attacks on countries in the region, saying Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes and resume negotiations.
        This message from the so-called E3 group of countries was a welcome development Al-Saif said.
        Earlier on Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a second time, saying it was "sad to see" the so-called special relationship deteriorate after Britain initially held off providing support for U.S. strikes on Iran.
        Al-Saif said that Trump's comments were "part of the playbook" that the U.S. administration used and that nothing should be read into it.
        "The most important thing is aligning one's national interests with their partners and finding ways in which they can work together in advancing peace and security."
        Starmer said Britain did not take part in the assault on Tehran by the United States and Israel because any British military action must have a "viable, thought-through plan" and he did not believe in "regime change from the skies".
        But he has since allowed the U.S. to use UK bases to launch what he called limited and defensive strikes to weaken Tehran's capabilities, after Iran hit U.S. allies in the region with drones and missiles. On Monday (March 2), a British base in Cyprus was hit by a drone that Cypriot officials said was likely launched by Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.
    (Production: Martin Veal)
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