Analysis by CNN's Tim Lister

(CNN)-- Gulf states watch with growing concern as the conflict between Iran and the United States escalates once again.

A pattern of strikes and counterstrikes has become firmly entrenched, with the added complication of rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group in Yemen, which is determined to break the blockade imposed on it.

The diplomatic track appears to be on life support at the moment, and a wave of visits by Pakistani and Qatari delegations to Iran - in an attempt to maintain the ceasefire - has left diplomats in the region pessimistic, as Qatar itself was hit twice during the latest escalation.

Iranian drones also targeted Oman, days after negotiations between the two countries over a plan to manage navigation in the strait. Iran's Revolutionary Guard targeted ships sailing near Omani coasts, and traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to its lowest levels.

Iran has repeatedly warned of its readiness to intensify strikes against its neighbors that host US military facilities, and the semi-official Fars news agency published a list of five ports in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, suggesting they could become targets if Iranian infrastructure is attacked.

US strikes in recent days have included tunnels, roads, bridges, and railways - according to Iranian state media - raising fears that the conflict could spiral out of control and escalate.

According to Israeli analyst Danny Citrinowicz, 'Every US escalation is met with an Iranian escalation, as each side seeks to establish new deterrence rules with each round of confrontation.'

Citrinowicz said in a post on platform X on Saturday that instead of forcing Iran back to the negotiating table, 'the equally likely outcome is a conflict escalating beyond the intentions of either side, expanding into a much wider regional war with diminishing chances of returning to the diplomatic track.'