ALBAWABA- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has called on Gulf states to make a strategic choice between aligning with Israel or Iran, framing the decision as a critical security divide amid escalating regional tensions.
Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv, Huckabee said Gulf countries would ultimately need to determine which side poses the greatest threat, arguing that Iran represents a more immediate danger than Israel. “The Gulf states now understand they will have to make a choice- is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?” he said.
He highlighted past Israeli support for Gulf partners, including the deployment of Iron Dome air defence systems and personnel to the United Arab Emirates during earlier Iran-related escalations. In contrast, he pointed to Iranian missile attacks and disruptions in maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as evidence of Tehran’s regional threat.
“Israel helped us. Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land and is not sending missiles to you,” Huckabee said, adding that he hoped more countries would join efforts to normalise relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords framework.
The remarks come as the fragile US-Iran ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan in early April 2026, remains under strain. US President Donald Trump recently described the agreement as being on “life support” following Tehran’s latest response to Washington’s proposals.
Huckabee also praised the United Arab Emirates for maintaining air links with Israel after the October 2023 Hamas attacks and suggested that further normalisation agreements could follow.
He characterised Iran’s leadership as fundamentally hostile to Israel and the United States, describing the Islamic Republic as viewing Israel as an “appetiser” and America as its primary target. The comments reflect broader US efforts to strengthen regional alignments against Iran at a time when competing geopolitical frameworks are taking shape.
Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate, is known for his strong pro-Israel positions rooted in evangelical Christian support for the country. His earlier remarks on Israel’s biblical and strategic role in the region drew criticism from several Arab and Muslim states earlier this year.
Despite deepening cooperation between Israel and some Gulf countries under the Abraham Accords, regional governments have generally maintained a cautious balancing approach in their relations with both Tehran and Tel Aviv, prioritising economic stability and avoiding escalation.
