Iran Warns Gulf States That Supporting US Military Operations Would Make Them Parties to the War

According to OilPrice.com on August 21, 2026, Iran has warned Gulf states that any support for US military operations would make them participants in the war, and Tehran said it is tracking US aircraft operating from regional bases. The UAE suspended all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran on Tuesday, citing an accusation that Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward vessels off the Emirati coast, which Iran has denied. The outlet reported that US President Donald Trump has threatened "tremendous" economic consequences for any country whose banks, businesses, airports, or government entities provide Iran with "any type of lifeline." The US is set to announce the "toughest sanctions in history" on Monday, with China, which buys more than 80 percent of Iran's seaborne oil, described as the main target.