US and Israel attack Iran with very broad objectives. Gulf states criticize counterstrikes. Oman condemns war. OPEC+ may increase output hike

GULF COUNTRIES - In Brief 28 Feb 2026 by Justin Alexander

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Trump laid out very broad US objectives in a video at about 3am ET on Saturday, shortly after strikes had begun, which suggest a prolonged assault (CBS). “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime”. He listed grievances back to the 1980 hostage crisis, although there was no evidence presented of these imminent threats.“Ensure that Americans and our children will never be threatened by a nuclear armed Iran”. This suggests there will be heavy bombing at the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan sites which he said had been “obliterated” in the June war, and probably most other nuclear-linked sites. A major concern will be the test reactor in Bushehr, where fallout from an attack would likely pollute the GCC.“Annihilate their navy” – this should be fairly straightforward to achieve given air superiority and visible targets. “Raise their missile industry to the ground. It will be totally, again, obliterated.” – This is more challenging, but achievable. The rapid cadence of Iranian counterfire today seems to imply an effort to use missiles before they are destroyed on the ground, as Israel did rapidly in June.“Ensure that the region's terrorist proxies can no longer destabilize the region” – it is unclear how the strikes on Iran itself will have this impact. There are parallel strikes by Israel on Hezbollah in Lebanon and strikes on Iraqi militia (Rt). The Houthis in Yemen could also be targeted. Show off US capability: “This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces”.Spark an uprising: “Finally, to the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour...