Media: Gulf states convinced Trump to avert US strike on Iran

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman launched urgent, last-ditch diplomacy to prevent a possible US military strike on Iran, warning Washington that an attack would trigger severe regional repercussions, a senior Saudi official told AFP on January 15.

The three Gulf states “led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention,” the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that dialogue with Washington and Tehran was continuing, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Tensions surged after the United States repeatedly warned it could intervene in response to Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters. Tehran responded by threatening retaliation against US military bases and shipping targets, many of which are located in the Gulf.

Fears of imminent escalation prompted the relocation of some personnel from a major US military base in Qatar on January 14, while staff at US diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were advised to exercise heightened caution.

The Saudi official said the Gulf mediation aimed to “avoid an uncontrollable situation in the region,” stressing that the states had warned Washington that “an attack on Iran would open the way for a series of grave blowbacks in the region.”

Following several threats of military action, President Donald Trump later signaled a shift in tone, saying he had received assurances from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would not execute demonstrators.

“It was a sleepless night to defuse more bombs in the region... the communication is still underway to consolidate the gained trust and the current good spirit,” the Saudi official said.

Another Gulf official said parallel messages had been delivered to Tehran, cautioning that “the message conveyed to Iran has been that an attack on US facilities in the Gulf would have consequences on relations with countries in the region.”

By Sabina Mammadli