OREANDA-NEWS  Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are close to deciding to join the military campaign against Iran. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources familiar with the situation.

According to the newspaper, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman intends to restore the deterrent after Iran attacked the kingdom's energy facilities. One of the interlocutors of the WSJ said that Riyadh's entry into the war is "only a matter of time."

Prior to this, the Kingdom did not allow its bases and airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. However, after rockets and drones fired at the Saudi capital and oil facilities, the position changed. Riyadh has agreed to provide the King Fahd air base to the American forces.

The UAE, in turn, is taking action against Iranian-owned assets, which threatens Tehran's key source of financing. The Emirates are also discussing sending their troops to the front and opposing a cease-fire.

Earlier, more than 20 countries expressed their readiness to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement of the 22 signatories was published by the UAE Foreign Ministry.

The signatories of the document include European states — Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Slovenia, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, two Gulf countries — the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as Japan, Canada, South Korea, New Zealand. New Zealand and Australia.

The States called on Iran to immediately stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, as freedom of navigation is one of the key principles of international law.