The State Department announced on Friday that over $8 billion in arms sales have been approved for Middle East allies engaged in the Iran war.
Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait purchased various military equipment to bolster their defense systems as the conflict stretched into its ninth week.
The announcement was released the same day that President Donald Trump sent a letter to Congress saying that hostilities with Iran had been ‘terminated’ amid a pending 60-day War Powers Act deadline. The global conflict started on February 28.
According to the department, Secretary of State Marco Rubio “determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists” that allows the sale to each ally, while also saying that such approvals support the national security interests of the United States. This determination waived congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended.
The announcement came as the U.S. and Iran have yet to reach a peace deal. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has negatively affected Iran’s economy, with the rial hitting an all-time low on April 30. The country is facing a severe unemployment crisis and high inflation as oil revenue continues to sharply decline.
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Trump also rejected the latest peace proposal from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, claiming that his counterparts “are very confused” and “their country has frankly been decimated.” Speaking at an event in Florida on Friday, he said that the U.S. “might be better off without a deal” and that the U.S. will not leave Iran until the job is finished.
Israel, Qatar, and the UAE’s purchases of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems were approved for a total of $2.1 billion. Kuwait acquired an Integrated Battle Command System for $2.5 billion, and Qatar resupplied its Patriot missile capacity for $4.01 billion.