Washington - Saba:
Diplomats and experts have warned that US President-elect Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" policy on Iran is "being challenged by partners in the Middle East who have lost confidence in the United States and are forging new ties with China's help." According to the British newspaper "The Telegraph".
As Trump prepares to resume office, the political landscape in the Middle East has changed dramatically, with the president-elect and his Gulf friends no longer clearly in agreement with Israel or Iran.
Sources told The Telegraph: "Trump may now find it more difficult to gain regional support for his hard line against Tehran, especially if this is accompanied by little or no pressure on Israel."
"What causes panic in the Gulf states is that Trump has chosen many people who seem to be less inclined to 'America first' than 'Israel first.'"
Saudi Arabia's orbit has gradually shifted away from Washington during Joe Biden's presidency, and last year it signed a Chinese-brokered deal to restore diplomatic relations with Iran.
Last month, Gulf foreign ministers met for the first time as a group with their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.
At the same time, "Saudi Arabia escalated its criticism of Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused the Zionist prime minister of committing genocide in Gaza," as "it was completely different when Trump took office in 2016, and then came the Zionist war on Gaza and Lebanon."
Fears that the United States will encourage Zionist escalation may be exaggerated: Trump, whose anti-interference instincts tend to speak of his desire to make peace around the world, may put more pressure on Israel than Netanyahu is counting on, despite his rhetoric.
Sanam Vakil, Middle East director at Chatham House, a think tank on international affairs, said he would "continue the strong American approach to Israel, but that doesn't necessarily mean the U.S. will take a proactive approach toward Iran as Netanyahu wants."
"I would be surprised if Israel were given a blank check because the risk of giving Israel a blank check doesn't stop at Israel's borders, as it is certain that this will extend to various parts of the Middle East, and I don't think this administration wants to get involved in Middle East wars."
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