Iran has decided to limit its attacks on Saudi Arabia out of concern that continued strikes could trigger a direct Saudi military response, two sources told The Jerusalem Post.
Since the start of the war, Iran has launched more than 430 missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia. Most of the drones have targeted the Eastern Province, where many of the kingdom’s oil refineries are located, as well as Shaybah, a major oil field in the Empty Quarter. Most of the missiles have been aimed at Al-Kharj, about 80 km southeast of Riyadh, home to Prince Sultan Air Base.
According to the sources, Iranian officials believe that “the Saudis are on edge,” and assess that continued large-scale attacks could push Saudi Arabia to take a step it has so far avoided, directly striking Iran. Saudi officials have previously made clear, including in discussions with Iran, that their red line is any attack on electricity generation and water desalination facilities.
“If you target civilian infrastructure, we will be forced to strike you,” Saudi officials warned in recent weeks.
Saudi Arabia has also recently shifted its policy, allowing the US military to use bases in the country for operations against Iran.
A US Air Force F-16 takes flight in the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 2, 2026. (credit: US Central Command Public Affairs)
Iran reportedly decides to avoid targeting Qatar
In addition to scaling back attacks on Saudi Arabia, Iran has decided to avoid targeting Qatar. However, strikes against Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates will “continue as usual,” according to the sources.
Gulf states are closely and anxiously monitoring developments following US President Donald Trump’s threat to target power stations in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. Iran has already warned that it would retaliate by attacking energy facilities in Gulf countries if the US president carries out the threat.
sciguy52 on March 23rd, 2026 at 02:36 UTC »
Firgured this was coming. On Iran's eastern border the Pakistani military has moved troops to the border. Pakistan has a defense alliance with Saudi Arabi, warned Iran directly about further attacks on Saudi would result in Pakistan attacking Iran if they happened again which Iran did repeatedly. Takes time to move military to the border so they must be there now and Iran is sweating. Pakistan could move to make a buffer zone in Iran on its border as one possibility, or outright attack. I would expect that Iran will shortly say they no longer will attack Turkey and Azerbaijan as both these countries are setting up a "military exercise" together that guess what moves troops from both countries to the northern border of Iran. Turkey had warned Iran twice about the missiles fired into Turkey with the second warning being a "last warning" and Iran did it again. Now troops and equipment are moving into place all along the northern border for "exercises" Turkey and Azerbaijan will do together. And guess what the exercises look like ones you would practice if you were going to do an incursion into northern Iran to create a buffer zone for refuges and pushing the Iranian military further from the border. Iran is getting very worried. As they should. Don't know if Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan are coordinating, but if they are, and all decide "humanitarian" buffer zones are needed on their respective borders then they may act at the same time on three fronts. There simply is going to be no coordinated Iranian military response due to loss of command and control and Iran will be able to do little to stop it. Yup more "I promise not to attack you anymore's" coming, and obviously the Iranian's will use this as another example of their "winning" as they hope and prey these three countries do not act on the threats they have already made.
petepro on March 23rd, 2026 at 01:40 UTC »
And they promised not to attack the gulf states anymore. And that's a public statement not some hush hush from 'sources'.
numba1cyberwarrior on March 23rd, 2026 at 01:02 UTC »
Submission statement: Iran has decided to limit its attacks on Saudi Arabia out of concern that continued strikes could trigger a direct Saudi military response. Saudi Arabia has also recently shifted its policy, allowing the US military to use bases in the country for operations against Iran. In addition to scaling back attacks on Saudi Arabia, Iran has decided to avoid targeting Qatar. However, strikes against Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates will “continue as usual,” according to the sources