US Allies Urge Diplomacy to Avoid Escalation with Iran Amid Fears of Regional Instability.
In a bid to stave off a military conflict between the US and Iran, several key Middle Eastern allies have embarked on an intensive diplomatic push over the past 72 hours. The countries involved in this effort include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman.
According to a Gulf official, these talks have focused on lowering public rhetoric and avoiding military action that could trigger wider regional instability. The message has been conveyed to both the US and Iran, with Arab states urging Washington to refrain from strikes on Iranian facilities in the Gulf region.
The stakes are high, with thousands of American forces stationed in the Gulf at risk of becoming targets of potential Iranian retaliation in the event of a US attack on Iran. In recent days, the US has withdrawn some personnel from an air base in Qatar as a precautionary measure.
Iran has explicitly warned that it would target US facilities and personnel if the US were to launch a military strike against Iran. This warning has been conveyed to several countries, including the US embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have advised Americans to avoid visiting military bases in those two countries.
The Gulf official described the situation as "volatile" and warned that once it spirals into an armed military escalation, there could be severe consequences. While tensions have cooled temporarily, the official cautioned that the next 72 hours will be crucial in determining whether a conflict can be averted.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened to take action against Iran if its security forces continue their violent crackdown on nationwide protests, leading some to fear that a military strike is imminent. However, in recent comments, the President suggested that a strike may not be necessary, stating "killing in Iran is stopping" and implying that military options are still on the table.
The diplomatic campaign is part of a broader effort to address regional instability and prevent further escalation between the US and Iran. It comes seven months after Trump ordered airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities amid a conflict with Israel, which ultimately ended in a ceasefire after just under two weeks.
For now, it appears that diplomacy remains the preferred course of action, with the goal of creating space for eventual discussions on a nuclear deal and other issues. As one diplomat noted, "collectively, there's an agreement that once this spirals into an armed military escalation, there could be lots of consequences."
In a bid to stave off a military conflict between the US and Iran, several key Middle Eastern allies have embarked on an intensive diplomatic push over the past 72 hours. The countries involved in this effort include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Oman.
According to a Gulf official, these talks have focused on lowering public rhetoric and avoiding military action that could trigger wider regional instability. The message has been conveyed to both the US and Iran, with Arab states urging Washington to refrain from strikes on Iranian facilities in the Gulf region.
The stakes are high, with thousands of American forces stationed in the Gulf at risk of becoming targets of potential Iranian retaliation in the event of a US attack on Iran. In recent days, the US has withdrawn some personnel from an air base in Qatar as a precautionary measure.
Iran has explicitly warned that it would target US facilities and personnel if the US were to launch a military strike against Iran. This warning has been conveyed to several countries, including the US embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which have advised Americans to avoid visiting military bases in those two countries.
The Gulf official described the situation as "volatile" and warned that once it spirals into an armed military escalation, there could be severe consequences. While tensions have cooled temporarily, the official cautioned that the next 72 hours will be crucial in determining whether a conflict can be averted.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened to take action against Iran if its security forces continue their violent crackdown on nationwide protests, leading some to fear that a military strike is imminent. However, in recent comments, the President suggested that a strike may not be necessary, stating "killing in Iran is stopping" and implying that military options are still on the table.
The diplomatic campaign is part of a broader effort to address regional instability and prevent further escalation between the US and Iran. It comes seven months after Trump ordered airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities amid a conflict with Israel, which ultimately ended in a ceasefire after just under two weeks.
For now, it appears that diplomacy remains the preferred course of action, with the goal of creating space for eventual discussions on a nuclear deal and other issues. As one diplomat noted, "collectively, there's an agreement that once this spirals into an armed military escalation, there could be lots of consequences."