Although Saudi Arabia “opposed the US attack on Iran” and also condemned Israel, another key factor is now coming into play: economics. Saudi Arabia, according to the Middle East Eye, “is wary of Tehran asserting control of the Strait of Hormuz and setting a precedent that allows its energy facilities to be targeted.” Days ago, Saudi Arabia “gave the US wider access to new bases” amid calls to “punish Iran” from both the Saudis and UAE.
Iran has also now completely cut off natural gas exports to Turkey, following an Israeli strike on the South Pars field. The result: “Ankara loses 14% of its supply as regional energy wars escalate.”
Prior to the war on Iran, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had announced that the Palestinian cause was central to the Muslim Ummah. A shift has now taken place: the central cause is now survival. Anger in the Gulf states immediately flared up at the start of the war in response to Iran’s violation of their sovereignty, as the Islamic regime attacked US interests inside the Gulf countries.
The war on Iran has shifted the news cycle away from prioritizing the so-called Palestinian cause.
As the global economy and stability rapidly shift due to the war, so does the relationship between Muslim countries, which are no longer as united as they were in the recent past.
“Saudi Arabia diverged with Turkey and Pakistan on condemning Iran,” by Sean Mathews, Middle East Eye, March 24, 2026:
Turkey and Pakistan opposed the use of harsh language in a diplomatic statement condemning Iran at a meeting of Arab and Muslim foreign ministers in Riyadh last week, multiple sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
Saudi Arabia, in particular, pressed for a tough censure of Iran, which has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at the kingdom in response to the US-Israel war on the Islamic Republic, a western official familiar with the meeting told MEE.
“Turkey and Pakistan weren’t convinced to condemn Iran until the missiles started flying overhead,” the western official told MEE, referring to strikes that targeted Saudi Arabia while several foreign dignitaries from the Muslim and Arab world were in Riyadh for meetings.
Turkey was only swayed to agree to the language in the statement after Iran’s drone and missile attack on Riyadh. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi that Tehran should have at least stopped its attack on Riyadh while diplomats were gathered there trying to find a resolution to the conflict.
The gap between the countries does not equate to a serious spat, but it shows how the US-Israeli war on Iran is impacting countries differently, with their positions evolving depending on their national security preferences.
“Iran cuts off Turkey’s gas following Israeli strike on South Pars,” WION News, March 24, 2026:
The escalating conflict in West Asia has moved from the battlefield to the kitchen table, as a series of high-stakes strikes on energy infrastructure begins to hit home for millions. Following a targeted Israeli attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field last Tuesday (Mar 24), Tehran has officially cut off all natural gas exports to Turkey.
For the average household in Ankara or Istanbul, this isn’t just a headline about “bilateral trade”, it’s a question of energy security. Last year, nearly 14% of the gas keeping Turkish homes warm and factories running came directly from Iran. While the Turkish Energy Ministry has remained silent on the disruption, sources close to the matter quoted in news outlet Bloomberg suggest that for now, the country is leaning heavily on its neighbours, Russia and Azerbaijan, to keep the lights on.
The human cost of this “energy war” is radiating outward. In a sharp retaliatory move, Iran launched strikes against critical assets in the Persian Gulf, including Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan complex. This isn’t just a regional blow….
Taffy says
The “Palestinian Cause” is a misnomer. The correct title should be The Anti-Israel Cause. None of these Muslim countries give a crap about the Palestinians. Jordan and Egypt actually hate them because of their ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. But, when it comes to the destruction of Israel, almost all the Muslim countries are on the same wavelength whether they are Sunni or Shia.
On another note, Pakistan and Turkey each share a border with Iran, so both countries have to tread lightly in their diplomatic endeavors with Iran A 15% reduction in gas supply for Turkey is not the end of the world, and it can easily be made up (at slight additional cost) by purchasing Russian gas. Israel a few years back discovered huge gas fields off their Mediterranean coast near the border with Lebanon. After settling their differences with Lebanon, Israel is producing enough gas to supply itself and Egypt. Would Turkey buy from Israel? Probably not! [although there is some bilateral trade with agricultural products and agricultural technology]
James Lincoln says
Taffy says,
“The “Palestinian Cause” is a misnomer. The correct title should be The Anti-Israel Cause.”
That should be obvious, but I have never seen it stated that way.
Spot-on post.
Winston 101 says
Taffy,
Absolutely. “Palestine” is just an Islamic Jihad project against Israel, assigned to the local Muslims, by the Islamic world. It’s Egyptian Arafat’s fake “liberation movement”. So palatable to the Western Left. “Palestinians” are given the highest prize in Islam. “To kill and be killed in the cause of Allah!” If they kill enough – then victory for Islam. If they don’t kill enough, and lose – then guaranteed Paradise! This way the vast combined Islamic countries, that have embarrassingly lost repeated wars to tiny Israel, don’t have to go to the trouble of yet another embarrassing loss to little Israel.
How embarrassing to repeatedly lose to the unbelievers on the world stage.
Better leave the job to the local “Palestinians”.
gravenimage says
+1
Billy says
Muslims, both Sunni and Shia, moan and cry as deceitful victims while Iran’s Shia fight their Jihad against Israel and America with their LIVES and the Sunnis fight their Jihad with their MONEY as reluctant allies of America to expand the Islamization of the West for ultimate conquest like taught in Islam’s Qur’an (Qur’an 3:54; 7:99; 8:30; 9:5, 29, 111; 49:15, etc.). This is a WIN-WIN for all Muslims.
gravenimage says
You can’t trust either “flavor”.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
This is great news. Turkey losing 14% of its gas, and Iran not being able to ship gas to its neighbors. Hope that in a Pahlavi Iran, Iran can ship gas to countries like India, and drop the demand on Qatari gas
As for the Saudis, they should have had more pipelines to, and ports on the Red Sea, so that they could have diverted all that supply there, and not let Hormuz remain a chokepoint. Just like Iran should have had more oil distribution centers than Kharg Island
Beans🫘 says
So why is modi giving Bangladesh all this new free diesel gas and oil?
What is going on. I thought Bangladesh became hostile, so is it time to punish them and show them their place or reward them?
Sometimes Indias foreign policy looks so confusing.