Ynetnews reported that Gulf capitals were divided over Trump's cancellation, with some wanting the operation to proceed and take Iranian capability down while the window was open, and that Tehran is separately weighing a pre-emptive strike should the diplomatic track collapse1.
Treat the sourcing carefully. Ynetnews is an Israeli outlet reporting on Gulf deliberations from outside them, the account rests on unnamed officials, and Israel has an evident interest in how Washington reads Gulf appetite for restraint. No Gulf government has said any of this on the record. Ynetnews complicates the tidy version of events rather than replacing it.
Riyadh spent late July building its own maritime security architecture rather than waiting on American cover, and Gulf states differ sharply in exposure: an Iranian answer to an American strike would land first on the bases, ports and desalination plants of the states that host US forces, which is precisely the argument credited with stopping this one. A government confident it can absorb a salvo weighs the trade differently from one that cannot.
The second half of the report matters more if it holds. A Tehran that is preparing a first move while its foreign ministry describes talks nearing their end would mean the pause is being used as preparation time by both capitals at once.
