Al Jazeera asked visiting lecturer in war studies at King's College London, analyst Samir Puri, whether US President Donald Trump's statement about possible additional strikes on Iran's Kharg Island "for fun" could undermine the US image as a reliable partner in Gulf states.

"When a major or superpower offers security guarantees, it's not just about equipment and military capabilities, but also the strategic common sense that accompanies this, that it is a responsible actor," Puri said.

Other members of the Trump administration have also acted in ways that could make Gulf states question whether the US is a stable long-term partner, Puri said.

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to take enormous pleasure in destruction for destruction's sake, in terms of how the US is approaching the war in Iran," he added. According to the analyst, despite the long-term rivalry between Iran and Arab states, "there is also a strong desire for stability," and Gulf states will be questioning whether the US can continue to maintain stability in the region.

"That is a valid question, given that it may further radicalize an already radicalized Iranian theocratic regime that already has apocalyptic views about its own destiny, its own sense of martyrdom, many of which they believe have been confirmed, given that the US and Israel struck their country during negotiations," Puri said.