Frustration with Trump grows among U.S.’s Persian Gulf allies, officials say

Frustration with Trump grows among U.S.’s Persian Gulf allies, officials say - The Washington Post

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Frustration with Trump grows among U.S.’s Persian Gulf allies, officials say

Gulf leaders worry the president is unable to manage the diplomacy necessary to secure peace with Iran, according to Arab and Western officials.

August 15, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. EDT

Today at 6:00 a.m. EDT

9 min

*A satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC on July 27 shows smoke rising from the Saudi Aramco oil processing facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. (Planet Labs PBC/AP)*

By

Susannah George

Frustration with Washington is growing in the Persian Gulf region, where U.S. allies are increasingly concerned that President Donald Trump is unable to manage the diplomacy necessary to secure peace with Iran, Arab and Western officials say.

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* Rachel Chason Trump wants Saudi Arabia in Abraham Accords, but it hasn’t been easy for UAE July 25, 2026
* Rachel Chason This Emirati billionaire put a voice to Gulf anger over Trump’s war in Iran March 18, 2026
* Adam Taylor and Rachel Chason Rubio’s new job? Selling Trump’s Iran deal to a worried Gulf. June 25, 2026
* Greg Miller , Rachel Chason , Sammy Westfall and Heidi Levine Trump threats, U.S. troop build-up raise specter of battle for Hormuz March 22, 2026
* Susannah George and Rachel Chason Gulf countries want Trump to end Iran war — but not yet, officials say March 26, 2026
* Warren Strobel and John Hudson U.S. strikes unlikely to move Iran, intelligence reports say July 20, 2026

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