**[U.S. Bases Fail to Deter Iran, Gulf Arab States Turn to Direct Dialogue with Iran]** Golden Finance reported on September 15 that, according to a news analysis from *The New York Times* out of Riyadh, after six months of conflict, repeated missile and drone strikes by Iran on U.S. military bases and facilities have exposed the limitations of the U.S. security guarantees long relied upon by Gulf Arab states. The report states that Iran and its allies have nearly destroyed parts of U.S. military bases, attacked luxury hotels, and recently disrupted a critical oil pipeline running across Saudi Arabia. Officials from Gulf states are exploring various ways to avoid further attacks, including direct diplomacy with Iran. A meeting originally scheduled for Monday between Iran and Gulf states was suddenly postponed on Sunday night. An anonymous senior Gulf official revealed that the delay was due to a deadlock between Saudi Arabia and Iran over issues related to the Strait of Hormuz. A scholar from Kuwait University pointed out that the region needs to overcome the "external protector syndrome."