Lessons Learned by GCC States in the 2026 US-Israel-Iran War

The 2026 US-Israel-Iran War, which began on February 28, 2026, and saw the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on June 17, 2026, exposed significant vulnerabilities for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The MoU, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, established a 60-day window for a comprehensive peace agreement, but largely overlooked GCC security concerns. During the conflict, Iran launched thousands of missiles and drones, primarily targeting GCC states and Jordan, resulting in at least 28 casualties across the GCC and devastating economic infrastructure, including the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

• Security Cannot Be Subcontracted: The war demonstrated that when American and Gulf interests diverged, American interests prevailed, highlighting the need for indigenous defense capabilities and a diversified security strategy beyond a single external guarantor.
• Neither Normalization nor Restraint Deter on Its Own: Iran targeted all six GCC states despite years of rapprochement, indicating that moderation was perceived as inability, necessitating credible deterrence and demonstrated capabilities alongside diplomatic efforts.
• Intra-GCC Divergence is Now a Strategic Liability: Iran exploited the fragmented response of GCC states, as collective defense institutions remained unused. This underscores the need for a shared strategic doctrine, crisis-period authority for the Secretariat, and systematic intelligence sharing.
• Bolstering Regional Connectivity is a Strategic Necessity: The closure of Hormuz revealed a critical lack of alternative infrastructure and contingency planning, emphasizing the importance of redundancy and converting sovereign wealth into strategic infrastructure decisions.