Cherie Culle/DOD, via Associated Press

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday.

NYT:  Gates to Discuss Iran With Emirates Leaders

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived here Thursday to consult with the United Arab Emirates about military defenses and the growing unease in the Persian Gulf over possible missile attacks by Iran.

Mr. Gates, who is a crucial part of the Obama administration’s intensifying campaign to put more pressure on Iran, was to meet with the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammad bin Zayyed al Nuhayyan, who is also the deputy commander of the country’s armed forces. The two are expected to discuss the United Arab Emirates’ agreement to accelerate the deployment here of two American-made Patriot missile batteries, which are capable of shooting down short-range offensive missiles.

Telegraph:  Gulf states wary of Iran’s nukes and of sanctions

Gates told King Abdullah, the Crown Prince and Defence Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, and other top security officials that Iran had “largely rebuffed” US overtures for a conciliatory dialogue, and that Washington was now focused on ramping up pressure on Tehran, according to a US defence official.

Gates was only the latest of several high level US visitors, including Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, and Steven Chu, the energy secretary, who have pounded the path to Riyadh to sell Saudi leaders on more pressure on Tehran.

But Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states remain dubious about whether heightened economic sanctions would be supported by enough countries to be effective, and whether they would have the intended impact on Tehran.

“We have a shared interest in preventing Iran from becoming a nuclear power,” said Mustafa Alani, research director at the Gulf Research Centre, a Dubai think tank.

However, he said: “We don’t recognise economic sanctions as going to change the Iranians’ mind. If there are sanctions, it will accelerate their nuclear programme.”

The support of the Gulf states is crucial, both to put real economic pressure on Iran – through trade and financial measures – and to ensure no disruption to global energy needs by a change to Iranian oil exports.