Salem Al-Ketbi

Salem Al-Ketbi, a UAE political analyst, wrote in an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post that the primary threat to Middle Eastern security is the Islamic Republic's aggressive missile program, not Gulf states' efforts to strengthen their defensive capabilities. He argued that Tehran has turned missiles into a tool for deterrence, exerting pressure, and expanding regional influence, while Gulf states have primarily relied on defensive systems. Referencing the 2026 war between the US and the Islamic Republic, Al-Ketbi viewed missile and drone attacks on Gulf states as evidence of their vulnerability and emphasized that economic stability and international relations have not prevented them from being targeted. He also wrote that the Islamic Republic's use of cheap missiles and drones has imposed heavy defense costs on regional countries.

• According to Al-Ketbi, sustainable regional security requires either real limitations on the Islamic Republic's aggressive missile capabilities or recognition of the Gulf states' right to establish proportionate deterrence.. Read the full text here.