US in ‘Panic’ as Gulf States Consider Going Alone, Analyst Warns

Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured Gulf allies that Washington will protect their interests as it pushes for a final settlement to the Middle East war through talks with Iran. But independent journalist and author Borzou Daraghai says the White House is in “panic” over a new risk: Gulf countries may create their own security arrangement. Speaking to FRANCE 24’s Sharon Gaffney, Daraghai explained that such a move could undermine the Abraham Accords—the US-brokered deals that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. If Gulf nations act independently, it would weaken American influence in the region. Daraghai, who writes the newsletter *Badlands*, described the situation as a growing challenge for Washington. The US now faces pressure to keep its allies close while negotiating with Iran, all without losing its role as the region’s key security guarantor.