As Iran provokes the Gulf, Trump still lacks a counter to its tit-for-tat strategy

While Gulf states continue to pursue a policy of containment regarding Iranian attacks, the responses they trigger could escalate into a region-wide war

Haaretz
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As Iran provokes the Gulf, Trump still lacks a counter to its tit-for-tat strategy

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While Gulf states continue to pursue a policy of containment regarding Iranian attacks, the responses they trigger could escalate into a region-wide war

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Zvi Bar'el

06:03 AM • June 04 2026 IDT

Israel and the Gulf states are trapped inside a tit-for-tat strategy that Iran is using against U.S. President Donald Trump, one that resembles the one Hezbollah employed against Israel for years. That was in evidence on Wednesday when Iran attacked Kuwait's airport and launched missiles at Bahrain after U.S. forces attacked targets on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Gulf.

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