# Saudi-UAE rift over US Iran strategy > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/saudi-arabias-shifting-middle-east-alliances > Updated: 2026-08-02T22:59:14.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 3. In late June 2026 Saudi Arabia opened talks with China on broader Middle‑East coordination, a move framed against rising U.S. pressure. By late July the kingdom’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates deteriorated after the UAE left OPEC and backed the Southern Transitional Council, putting Riyadh and Abu Dhabi on opposite sides of the Yemeni conflict. The rivalry deepened in early August when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned President Donald Trump that a large‑scale U.S. bombing of Iran would invite retaliation against Saudi energy infrastructure, while the UAE pressed for a tougher military response to curb the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The split highlights divergent Gulf tactics as Washington weighs further strikes, reinforcing a broader realignment of Gulf politics amid heightened U.S. actions against Iran. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-02: Saudi Arabia and UAE clash over US strategy on Iran Saudi Crown Prince urges Trump to avoid large‑scale Iran strikes, while the UAE pushes for a tougher US military response, reflecting a Gulf split over de‑escalation versus force. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saudi-arabia-and-uae-clash-over-us-strategy-on-iran ### 2026-07-27: Saudi Arabia and UAE rivalry deepens amid US‑Iran conflict Saudi Arabia and the UAE are clashing over OPEC exit and support for Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, while U.S. pressure on Iran heightens regional tensions. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saudi-arabia-and-uae-rivalry-deepens-amid-usiran-conflict ### 2026-06-30: Saudi Arabia and China discuss Middle East coordination amid US tensions Saudi FM Faisal bin Farhan met Chinese leaders in Beijing to coordinate Middle‑East policy, discuss Hormuz security and US‑Iran tensions, and strengthen Saudi‑China ties. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/saudi-arabia-and-china-discuss-middle-east-coordination-amid-us-tensions --- Cite as: Saudi-UAE rift over US Iran strategy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/saudi-arabias-shifting-middle-east-alliances