Gulf diplomats express scepticism over potential Israeli strike on Iran

Arab nations are unlikely to permit Israel to utilize their airspace for a potential attack on Iran, a diplomat from the Middle Eastern region revealed.

Speaking to US media, he expressed doubt that any Arab state would grant such permission, per Caliber.Az.

Another diplomat from the region emphasized that Iran has issued stern warnings to local countries, indicating that any support for Israel could provoke conflict. “The Gulf Cooperation Council aims to avoid being drawn into the crossfire. Our priority is to de-escalate tensions,” he stated.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi recently visited Qatar and Saudi Arabia, where he engaged in discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Additionally, the US newspaper reported that Tehran, through diplomatic channels, has threatened U.S. allied nations in the Middle East with retaliation if their territories or airspace are used for an anticipated Israeli strike on Iran. According to the newspaper, these threats have been effective, leading Arab nations to inform the U.S. that they will not support any attack on Iran.

On October 1, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched a significant number of rockets at Israel during Operation True Promise 2. The Israeli military stated it would respond to this aggression at its discretion.

Tehran said it had targeted Israel in retaliation for the killings of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an April attack on Iran's consulate in Damascus, the Syrian capital, that killed two of its generals.

Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran after he attended President Pezeshkian’s inauguration ceremony in July, while Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike. His death came days after several Hezbollah leaders were killed by exploding pagers and walkie-talkies, an attack widely attributed to Israel.

By Tamilla Hasanova