Middle East states prepare for a long war

Separate moves by Middle East powers cemented a growing belief that the Iran war was unlikely to end anytime soon. The UAE cut off trade with Iran, blaming it for recent missile attacks on the country; Tehran dismissed the allegation as a “false flag.”

NBC also reported that Iran has taken delivery of materiel from Russia in order to replenish depleted weapons stockpiles, as Tehran continued its attacks on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz, which remains de facto closed. Intra-Gulf tensions, meanwhile, are on the rise: Saudi Arabia is increasing scrutiny of financial transfers to the UAE, the latest sign that a rivalry between the monarchies that had eased because of the war is reviving.