Once seeking de-escalation, Saudi Arabia now sees ‘no coexistence’ with hardline Iran

Nadia Massih is pleased to welcome Natasha Lindstaedt, Author, Professor of Government at the University of Essex. The unfolding conflict reveals a profound shift in Gulf strategic thinking, Professor Lindstaedt argues, driven less by ideological ambition than by accumulated insecurity. What began as a strong preference for de-escalation has gradually given way to a more hard-edged assessment of regional realities. The persistence of attacks, particularly on critical infrastructure, has reinforced the perception that coexistence with a hardline Iranian regime may no longer be viable.