Good morning! Today is Thursday, June 4th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. On day 57 of the Iran War, Tehran struck Kuwait and Bahrain with missiles and drones, killing at least one at Kuwait International Airport as Brent crude pushed past $98 and gas hit $4.26 a gallon. President Trump has tied any end to the conflict to a sweeping expansion of the Abraham Accords, demanding recognition from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and the Gulf kingdoms while asking nothing of Israel. Doug Bandow argues the gambit would do little for America and much for Benjamin Netanyahu, pressuring Arab states to abandon the Palestinians and throwing the embattled prime minister a political lifeline ahead of his reelection. and now for the details. We begin in the Persian Gulf, where the so-called ceasefire in the Iran War is fraying. On its 57th day, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain, retaliating for American strikes on an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and an intelligence facility on Qeshm Island. Tehran's Foreign Ministry blamed both Gulf states for allowing their territory to serve as launchpads for operations against Iran. Kuwait says it engaged thirty incoming projectiles overnight Tuesday. Drones struck Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport, killing at least one person, injuring dozens, and causing significant damage. U.S. Central Command initially downplayed the attacks. Meanwhile, Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon continued, killing at least seven people Wednesday, including a paramedic. Lebanon's Health Ministry now puts the death toll from Israeli strikes at 3,516. As Harrison Berger reports for TAC, the economic shockwaves continue: Brent crude climbed above $98 a barrel Wednesday morning, and AAA pegged the national average price of regular gasoline at $4.26 a gallon. Against that backdrop, President Trump last week tied any end to the Iran conflict to a sweeping expansion of the Abraham Accords, declaring, quote, "If they don't sign to join Abraham Accords, I'm not sure we should make the deal." He named Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, along with the Gulf kingdoms — though Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey already recognize Israel. Notably, nothing was asked of Israel itself. Doug Bandow argues in The American Conservative that the demand would do little for the United States and much for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a difficult reelection campaign. Bandow writes that the Accords were never really a peace deal, since none of the signatories had been at war with Israel, and that back-channel cooperation against Iran was already well-established. The real purpose, he contends, is to force Arab states to drop their commitment to a Palestinian state and to hand Netanyahu a political lifeline. Bandow cites Jon Alterman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who notes Gulf states feel Washington was eager to protect Israel but not them. Bandow adds that Arab publics, including 95 percent of Saudis according to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, oppose recognition. His conclusion: an America First policy should mean disengaging from the region, not deepening commitments on Netanyahu's behalf. Those are today's highlights. For the full stories and more, visit theamericanconservative.com. Thank you for starting your morning with us.
