Terrorist Attacks Pour Gas on Saudi-Iranian Rivalry and Gulf Tensions

“This is just a problem no one needs,” said Michael Stephens, a researcher in London at the Royal United Services Institute. It adds a new dimension to the raging conflicts between Western-allied Arab states and Iranian proxies in Syria and Yemen, Mr. Stephens said, and in Iraq between clients on both sides of the Saudi-Iranian conflict. It is a contrary result for Saudis, since they had justified their moves against Qatar in part by faulting it for dealing with Iran at all. “It is best for British national interests and for American national interests if the Persian Gulf states were united,” he said. “So this is really not a helpful time.”