\n<\/p>\n
Gulf nations will seek to add security partners as they rebuild battered economies after the US and Israel\u2019s war on Iran<\/a> and deal with an emboldened Tehran.<\/p>\n The Gulf will have to live with a continuing threat from the regime in Tehran and its remaining missile arsenal. American bases on their soil turned them into targets for Iran, as it retaliated against a joint attack by the US and Israel.<\/p>\n But, the countries say they can\u2019t tolerate Iran keeping control of the strait of Hormuz<\/a>, through which most of their trade flows. In agreeing to a ceasefire<\/a> this week, Iran insisted it would retain the hold it took during the war over the waterway, which would allow Tehran to throttle the Gulf at will. The future of the strait will be one of the main disputes to be negotiated between the United States and Iran, in talks in Islamabad due to start as soon as Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gulf nations trumpeted success in largely intercepting the Iranian barrage of missiles and drones over the five weeks of the conflict, showing they can defend themselves.<\/p>\n The countries are, however, split over future relations with Iran, with a hawkish grouping led by the United Arab Emirates<\/a> and Bahrain taking a harder line, and other nations hoping for peace through renewed ties with Tehran, experts say.<\/p>\n Iranian state media said on Wednesday that the UAE was probably behind an attack on its oil facilities on Lavan island, hours after the announcement of a ceasefire, and Iran hit back. It would be the only known offensive action by a Gulf nation in the conflict. The UAE has not commented.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia and Iran on Thursday held their first official contact since the conflict began, in a call between the two foreign ministers that \u201cdiscussed ways to reduce tensions to restore security and stability in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n Bader Mousa Al-Saif, a professor at Kuwait University, said the Gulf should reconsider its security, forming partnerships with countries such as Turkey and other middle powers, as opposed to relying solely on the US. He said that the region must get away from the danger of conflict repeatedly erupting now, so that economic foundations can be reset.<\/p>\n \u201cIt behoves all the countries in the region to rethink the model,\u201d said Al-Saif. \u201cThe question is how to insulate the region as a whole from going into a forever war.\u201d<\/p>\n The likes of Turkey and Pakistan, which have large and capable militaries, look set to play a bigger role in the Gulf. There were moves in this direction even before the war.<\/p>\n In recent months, Saudi Arabia forged a defence pact with Pakistan and the UAE announced a defence partnership with India. During this conflict, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar<\/a> hurriedly signed defence agreements with Ukraine, to tackle the threat from Iranian drones.<\/p>\n There have been calls for a \u201cMuslim Nato\u201d, but that idea is considered highly unlikely. A new alignment emerged in March of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan<\/a>, \u201cStep\u201d. However the rivalries between those countries, and the lack of clarity on whether they are protecting against Iran or Israel complicates the relationship. Turkey and Pakistan border Iran and do not want to see confrontation with Tehran.<\/p>\n