Gulf States in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
In May 2026 politics in the Gulf States centred on the confrontation between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. On 4 and 5 May the UAE called new attacks a "dangerous escalation" and accused Iran of being behind a large fire at a Fujairah oil refinery. Iran said the UAE was acting as a Trojan horse for the United States and Israel, and later warned Gulf states that its restraint would not last. The UAE rejected Iran's demand for transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Abu Dhabi on 15 May and discussed the war with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, saying India stood with the UAE; the two countries were moving towards defence cooperation. A report said the UAE had urged Gulf states to join a military response and that Saudi Arabia refused.
Diplomacy over the strait ran alongside. A Bahrain-led UN resolution on the strait gained the support of 112 nations on 13 May. President Trump, on a visit to Beijing, said Chinese President Xi Jinping had offered to help open the strait and had promised not to arm Iran. Trump said he called off a planned strike on Iran at the request of Gulf states. On 22 May Iran published a map claiming jurisdiction over waters of the UAE and Oman, and the UAE and four other Gulf states rejected its authority to manage traffic. By 24 May the US and Iran were reported close to a deal including a 60-day ceasefire, and Iranian officials went to Qatar for talks on a ceasefire and frozen Iranian funds. Qatar and Pakistan acted as mediators.
Oman came under pressure at the end of the month. Iran said it was working with Oman on a mechanism, including possible tolls, for shipping through the strait; on 27 and 28 May Trump threatened Oman over the plan, and Oman was described as caught between Washington and Tehran. On 28 May the US accused Iran of a ceasefire violation over an attack on Kuwait, which Egypt condemned.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.