Gulf States Under Fire, With Mina Al-Oraibi
From The President’s Inbox by Council on Foreign Relations
April 1, 2026 · 38 min
About this episode
This episode discusses the implications of the war with Iran on the security and economic stability of Gulf states.
This episode unpacks how the war with Iran will affect the future of the Gulf countries’ security and economic prosperity. Host: James M. Lindsay, Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy, CFR Guest: Mina Al-Oraibi, Editor-in-Chief, The National We Discuss: Whether Gulf states supported or opposed the war with Iran and their role in the intensive diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict before it began. How Iran’s retaliation expanded the war into the Gulf, targeting civilian infrastructure, energy hubs, and global transit points. The scale of drone and missile attacks across the region, and what they reveal about modern asymmetric warfare. Who is actually in charge in Iran, and how the IRGC is shaping decision-making and escalation. Why regime change in Iran remains unlikely, despite internal unrest and external pressure. Why Gulf leaders don’t want a simple ceasefire, but rather a long-term security reset that addresses Iran’s missile and drone programs. How the war is stress-testing Gulf economies and their long-term bets on stability, globalization, and diversification. Mentioned on the Episode: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, July 14, 2015…
People in this episode
Host: James M. Lindsay
Guest: Mina Al-Oraibi
Topics covered
- Gulf states security
- Iran conflict
- asymmetric warfare
- Gulf economies
- diplomatic efforts
- missile and drone programs
Keywords
- Gulf states
- Iran
- security
- economic prosperity
- diplomacy
- asymmetric warfare
- IRGC
- missile programs
- drone attacks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The National, Council on Foreign Relations, United Nations News, IRGC
Books & works: Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
More episodes of The President’s Inbox
- America’s Ebola Preparedness, With Thomas Bollyky · June 10, 2026 · 37 min
- America at 250: The Marshall Plan, With Benn Steil · June 3, 2026 · 40 min
- Why the U.S. Needs an Africa Strategy, With Michelle Gavin · May 27, 2026 · 35 min
- What Trump and Xi Didn't Settle in Beijing, With Nicholas Burns · May 20, 2026 · 35 min
- Trump and Xi in Beijing, With Rush Doshi · May 13, 2026 · 38 min
- The Spillover: Are Prediction Markets Forecasting Tools or Virtual Casinos? · May 6, 2026 · 47 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The President’s Inbox podcast page.