The U.S. response to Iran’s regional strikes has tightened alliances and sharpened military focus, with War Secretary Pete Hegseth arguing Tehran’s attacks pushed Gulf states closer to Washington as U.S. forces prepare a major surge of firepower. Gulf capitals have publicly condemned attacks on their soil, opened wider cooperation, and granted additional basing and access. Military officials report dozens of strikes and significant damage to Iranian maritime and missile capabilities as the campaign presses on.
“What Iran is doing by targeting allied countries that would otherwise want to stay out of this, they’ve actually pulled them into the American orbit,” Hegseth said during a briefing at U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida. That realignment now includes the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait expanding practical cooperation with U.S. forces. Washington is leaning on these partnerships to accelerate operations and logistics across the region.
U.S. commanders have documented a widening pattern of Iranian attacks on neighboring states, with CENTCOM leadership noting Tehran has struck numerous countries around the Gulf and beyond. That escalation, officials say, has produced an unexpected region-wide backlash that favors closer ties with the United States. From basing agreements to intelligence sharing, the Gulf states are behaving more like partners than bystanders.
“The amount of firepower over Iran and over Tehran is about to surge dramatically,” he said, pointing to added basing and increased bomber operations. The military push includes expanded bomber runs and more access to facilities that support sustained operations. That capacity is meant to limit Iran’s ability to mount further cross-border strikes and to protect American forces and regional partners.
“It was unfortunate that … the Brits didn’t, from day one say, ‘Hey, go ahead and have access,’” he said. Hegseth noted that initial hesitation from some allies has been overcome and that access arrangements are now part of how bomber missions are being operationalized. The shift in posture underscores a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to coalition building.
Gulf and Arab governments have publicly condemned Iranian missile and drone strikes as violations of sovereignty and threats to regional security, calling the attacks “indiscriminate and reckless.” Those statements reaffirm the right of states to defend their territory and signal a unified public stance among Gulf Cooperation Council members. The diplomatic front now echoes the military tightening already under way.
Outside the Gulf, Azerbaijan complained of drone strikes on its Nakhchivan exclave that injured civilians and damaged the international airport, summoning Tehran’s ambassador and reserving the right to retaliate. Tehran denied responsibility in that incident, but the reaction in Baku shows how far-reaching the consequences have been. Nations once neutral or cautious are now reacting visibly to preserve sovereignty and regional stability.
“It was absolutely inevitable that the Iranians would seek to lash out, to widen the conflict … but all they’ve really done is made everybody quite mad, and that was a really bad calculation on their part,” said Danielle Pletka of the American Enterprise Institute, reflecting a common analysis among regional experts. Observers point out that Tehran’s decision to strike third-party targets has produced unity among states that previously kept distance from Washington. The strategic miscalculation has hardened opposition across a broad band of governments.
“It would have been unbelievable just one year ago to see Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states lining up with the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic,” said Peter Doran, highlighting how quickly regional dynamics have shifted. Hegseth rejects the notion that the conflict is uncontrollably expanding, instead arguing it clarifies objectives and strengthens partnerships. “This idea that it’s expanding or going — no,” he said. “It’s actually simplifying in a number of ways exactly what we need to achieve and how we’ll achieve it.”
Pentagon officials report that U.S. bombers have struck nearly 200 targets in the past 72 hours, destroyed more than 30 Iranian naval vessels and pushed down missile and drone attacks since the opening days of the operation. U.S. leaders insist the campaign is focused on degrading Iran’s capacity to threaten Americans and neighbors while using allied basing and coordination to sustain pressure. “I think the president’s having a heck of a say in who runs Iran, given the ongoing operation we have,” Hegseth said, as U.S. forces continue to press their advantage and lock in regional cooperation.
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