Besant attacks Gulf countries: praises UAE's withdrawal from OPEC

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bisant has stepped up his rhetoric toward a number of Gulf states, accusing them of being "too lenient" with funds linked to Iran and the Revolutionary Guards, before finding themselves "under Iranian bombardment," as he put it.

In a television interview, Besant said those countries "practically allowed the IRGC funds to enter and circulate", adding that what happened later "completely exposed the error of this approach".

The US secretary of state explained that what he described as the "Gulf coup against the previous position" towards Iranian funds came after the attacks carried out by Tehran, considering that this shift "was expected after those countries realized the magnitude of the risks they were ignoring."

Besant praised the UAE's decision to withdraw from OPEC, calling it "the end of the era of oil monopolies," noting that the move "will reshape the energy market and limit the ability of traditional blocs to control production and prices."

After OPEC. The UAE is counted among your fathers

The Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) announced on Sunday that the UAE has withdrawn from the alliance, which does not set a production policy for its members, as of last Friday.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Prevention (DOE) said in a statement  on Sunday, May 3, 2026, that it was informed of the decision to withdraw through an official letter addressed by the UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, to the Chairman of the current session of the SCO Council of Ministers, Libyan Minister of Oil and Gas Khalifa Rajab Abdul-Sadiq.

In its statement, the organization stressed its keenness to continue efforts to enhance cooperation and integration among member states, in order to serve common interests and support the Arab process of action in the energy sector through the implementation of approved strategic programs and initiatives.

The General Secretariat also expressed its appreciation for the role played by the UAE throughout its membership and its contributions in supporting the organization's activities over the past decades.

This came after the UAE announced last Tuesday its withdrawal from OPEC and the "OPEC+" alliance, with the decision to take effect as of early May.

Abu Dhabi said its decision was "made after an extensive review of the UAE's production policy and its current and future capacity", stressing that it is "in line with its long-term strategic and economic vision, and the development of its energy sector, including accelerating investment in domestic energy production".

Saudi Arabia: 188,000 per day increase

At the first meeting of the "OPEC+" alliance, on Sunday, May 3, 2026, after the UAE's withdrawal, Saudi Arabia led  a decision to increase production quotas by 188,000 barrels per day for the month of  June,  which carried a clear political significance, despite the limited increase, represented in emphasizing the organization's ability to make collective decisions, and that the absence of the UAE does not paralyze the mechanism of work.

  The move is an attempt to show that OPEC+ remains cohesive, and that Saudi Arabia is able to lead the internal balances despite the loss of one of the most important Gulf members, noting that Riyadh has avoided any offensive or critical rhetoric, preferring to keep "all doors open" to the UAE, reflecting a Saudi desire to prevent the dispute from turning into a broader political or economic crisis.

Moscow: Stabilizing the alliance and preventing the "contagion of withdrawal"

Russia refrained  from directly commenting on the motives behind the Emirati withdrawal, and was quick to affirm its full commitment to the alliance, as Moscow agreed to the recent production quota adjustments in coordination with Saudi Arabia, in a clear message that OPEC+ is still a necessary framework for regulating the global market.

Russian state television said Moscow had treated the Emirati withdrawal as a potential threat to the alliance's cohesion, so it focused on showing unity with Riyadh to  prevent any "withdrawal contagion" that might encourage other members to demand greater production flexibility or renegotiate their quotas.