American Prestige Special - How the War on Iran Is Breaking the Gulf w/ Annelle Sheline
Mar 19, 2026
Annelle Sheline, a Quincy Institute research fellow and former State Department officer who resigned over Gaza policy, breaks down Gulf–Iran tensions. She discusses Gulf fears of Iranian retaliation. She explains strains on the Gulf economic model tied to stability and foreign investment. She outlines risks to energy and desalination infrastructure and shifting security alignments.
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Netanyahu Pushed Washington Toward War For Decades
- Netanyahu has long sought a U.S.-led confrontation with Iran and Trump was the first president willing to carry it out.
- Annelle Sheline links current escalation to decades of Israeli efforts and Trump's unique readiness to follow through.
Gulf Economies Depended On U.S. Security Guarantees
- Gulf states long relied on U.S. security guarantees to underpin export- and investment-driven economic models.
- Sheline's Quincy report warned Riyadh and Doha to rethink U.S. reliance after incidents like the September 9 strike on Doha and 2019 Abqaiq attack.
Gulf City-States Are Economically Fragile Long Term
- The Gulf's glittering city-states are artificially sustained by fossil-fuel wealth and desalinated water, making their long-term viability precarious.
- Sheline points to Dubai's planned solar-desalination and demographic limits in smaller states like Qatar and UAE.