Jordan continues to face military strikes from Iran due to its security partnership with the United States. While the kingdom's military bases have been targeted by Iranian drones and missiles, Jordanian leaders stated they remain committed to the alliance. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi defended the nation’s sovereignty on Thursday, September 3, 2026, stating that Jordan was not a party to the war and that Iranian interference in the region predated the current conflict.
The security relationship between Amman and Washington has deepened under King Abdullah II, who assumed the throne in 1999. In 2021, the two nations signed a defense-cooperation agreement that granted U.S. forces and contractors access to 12 military installations. In 2025, the NATO military alliance opened a liaison office in Jordan, its first in the region. These ties have established Jordan as a logistics hub for U.S. combat aircraft and transport planes, particularly at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.
Beyond the military risk, Jordan is managing economic and social challenges. The kingdom’s economy is strained by the presence of millions of refugees and inflation, while the tourism sector has seen declining numbers. Additionally, Jordanian officials have expressed concern that violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the neighboring West Bank could cause a new wave of displacement into Jordan, where 2.8 million Palestinians already reside.
Jordanian elites view Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as drug trafficking across the northern border, as direct threats to their internal security. While U.S. air defenses have intercepted most incoming Iranian drones and missiles, the ongoing strikes test the kingdom's ability to balance its Western security commitments with a slumping economy and regional volatility. Any disruption to this partnership could impact the flow of aid that supports infrastructure and refugee services.
The U.S. military recently relocated personnel and assets from Iraq to Jordan to distance them from Iranian missile ranges. What happens next depends on the trajectory of the broader Iran war and whether current defense systems continue to prevent casualties on Jordanian soil. The kingdom remains under heightened alert as it navigates these overlapping security and economic pressures.