Aya Batrawi

We know from our sources in the region that some Gulf Arab states had short advance notice of the war in order to sort of just prepare their air defenses, but others did not.

And right now there is not one defined Gulf stance on this war or how it should end.

And despite continued Iranian attacks, Gulf countries have not hit back.

Analysts tell me that's in part because they don't know what Trump will do next, and they don't want to end up having to fight Iran alone.

But the United Arab Emirates has been more hawkish, and it says it's willing to join an international coalition to open the strait.

Right, exactly.

There is no coalition to speak of yet.

Despite that pressure from Trump, countries like the UK and France have actually tried to distance themselves from Trump's decision to go to war with Iran.

And in his speech last night, here's what Trump said other countries should be doing.

Should be easy, he says.

Now, the U.K.

is hosting a virtual meeting today of around 35 countries to discuss diplomatic and political measures to try to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which, again, a lot of that Gulf oil needs to go through and can't.

Canada and European nations, Japan and China.

Two Gulf Arab countries, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, are among those taking part.

And we've reported that military planners will also meet to discuss naval options.

But again, they're signaling any naval escort would be after the war.

And it's important to remember, A, that some 3,600 ground troops, among them Marine infantry, were just sent to the region or on their way.

But it's still unclear what their mission will be.

Thanks, A.

Iran says there are no negotiations with the U.S., and its list of conditions for halting the war include payments for damages and an end to attacks on Iranian-backed militias in the region.