Tehran steps up attacks on Gulf nations as Fareed Zakaria warns of 'clumsy' strategic mistake

3 minutes of readingMarch 1, 2026 12:18 pm IST

Military action by the United States and Israel and counterattacks by Iran escalated markedly on the second day of hostilities, with reports confirming that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed. In response, Iran intensified its attacks and announced 40 days of public mourning and seven days of national holidays.

The scale of the escalation over the past 24 hours is described as unprecedented and largely unforeseen. While US and Israeli strikes have reportedly killed and injured hundreds of civilians in Iran, Tehran’s retaliatory strikes have spread to at least six neighboring countries, including attacks on Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Indian-American journalist and CNN analyst Fareed Zakaria said Iran has historically mismanaged its negotiations and regional strategy, calling its attack on Gulf nations a foolish mistake.

“I’m surprised how clumsy they are,” Zakaria said. “They should never have attacked the Gulf States, especially when those countries had made it clear that they did not want to participate in this military operation. Their military bases could not be used, their airspace could not be used. They had privately advised President Trump not to carry out this attack.”

Zakaria argued that Tehran’s strategic misstep failed to drive a wedge between Washington and the Gulf capitals. Instead, he said, Iran’s attacks have brought the Gulf countries closer together.

He noted that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have issued strong condemnations, calling the attacks outrageous, a reaction he believes underscores how Iran has misinterpreted the situation.

Trump warns Iran

US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran in a recent post on Truth Social, saying Tehran had threatened a major escalation.

Story continues below this ad.

“Iran just declared that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than ever before,” Trump wrote. “HOWEVER, YOU BETTER NOT DO THAT, BECAUSE IF YOU DO, WE WILL HIT YOU WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE! Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The Indian Express’ Express Global Desk offers authoritative, fact-checked and context-based coverage of key international developments shaping global migration politics, policies and trends. The section focuses on stories with direct relevance to Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explanations and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is U.S. visa and immigration policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely follows Canada’s immigration, visa and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residency programs and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All Global Desk reports conform to The Indian Express editorial standards and are based on official data, government notifications, court documents and proprietary sources. The desktop prioritizes clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep experience in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar, Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats: Deputy editor specializing in American politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-based international coverage. Mashkoora Khan: Deputy editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on policy coverage related to Canada studies, immigration and visas. … Read more

Stay up to date with the latest – click here to follow us on Instagram

Click Here to Get More