Episode 21

Pawns or Peacemakers? Where the Gulf stands on the US-Iran war

Published on: 26th March, 2026

The war between Iran, Israel, and the US doesn't show any signs of slowing down. Despite reports of a flurry of diplomacy this last week, there are also reports of a US military operation and potentially a ground invasion increasingly imminent.

Now as these three parties to the conflict continue to play games of brinksmanship, the Arab Gulf States are looking increasingly vulnerable, stuck between Israel, Iran, and the US. They tried to prevent the war, and now they seem to be split between whether they should go on the offensive with Israel and the US or whether they should continue to try to convince the US President to wind it down.

This week Jasmine spoke to Mohamed Baharoon, the Director General of the Dubai Public Policy Research Center about the UAE's position, whether this war has really impacted the Gulf's ability to attract investors to be a safe place for people to live and work and visit, and what options the UAE and the Gulf have moving forward. Are they doomed to be pawns in future conflicts between Israel and Iran, or between the US and Iran? Or is there something they can do to shape the future--as peacemakers?

Episode Notes:

Dubai Public Policy Research Center: https://www.bhuth.ae/en

The UAE: Principles of the 50: https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/uae-in-the-future/the-principles-of-the-50

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About the Podcast

The View From Here
The View From Here with Jasmine El-Gamal
The View From Here is a brand-new weekly podcast hosted by former Pentagon official and foreign policy analyst Jasmine El-Gamal.

Each Thursday, Jasmine connects the dots between global headlines and the human stories behind them.

From war rooms to conflict zones to refugee camps, she draws on her experiences to examine how policy decisions impact real lives, uncovering the unseen costs of power.

The View from Here is foreign policy, reimagined: from the people shaping it, to those it impacts.

Get in touch with us with your thoughts and questions! You can find us at jasmine@viewfromherepod.com.

Disclaimer: The View from Here aims to showcase a wide range of views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of the podcast or its host.

About your host

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Jasmine El-Gamal

Jasmine El-Gamal is a foreign policy analyst and former Pentagon official who cares deeply about building bridges and changing the way we talk and think about policies that affect us all.

In this polarized, tribal environment, we've lost something essential. We've lost our ability to see each other's humanity across political and cultural divides.

As a first-generation Arab-American who's navigated cultures across North America, the Middle East, and Europe, Jasmine knows what it's like to live between worlds. To see how the same event can be understood completely differently depending on where you're standing.

The View from Here is her brand new podcast where she will break down foreign policy, and the news, and their impact on the humans behind the headlines.