Three Gulf sources told Reuters that the Arab Gulf states have not called for the United States to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging the U.S. not to back down and to avoid leaving Iran with the ability to threaten the Gulf region's oil lifelines and the economies that depend on it. Meanwhile, these sources, along with five Western and Arab diplomats, said Washington is pressuring Gulf states to join a U.S.-Israeli war. According to three of the sources, Trump wants to demonstrate support for military action in the region to bolster his international legitimacy and domestic support. "There's a general consensus throughout the Gulf region that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf state," said Abdulaziz Sager, president of the Saudi-based Gulf Studies Center, who is familiar with the government's thinking. "Initially we defended them, against war," he said. "But once they started attacking us, they became enemies. There's no other way to categorize them." (Jin Shi)