WASHINGTON: A concerted diplomatic push by four Arab states is credited with helping to de-escalate a dangerous spike in tensions between the United States and Iran over the past 72 hours, according to a Gulf official speaking to CNN.
The official revealed that Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt engaged in intensive shuttle diplomacy, delivering blunt messages to both Washington and Tehran. To the US, they urgently advised against military strikes on Iran, warning of severe security and economic repercussions for America and the wider region.
“It is important for Washington to hear this message from regional allies, particularly key Gulf partners that are central to President Trump’s foreign policy agenda,” the official stated.
Simultaneously, the quartet warned Iran that any attack on US facilities in the Gulf would critically damage its relations with Arab neighbors. The talks focused on lowering public rhetoric and avoiding military action that could spiral into broader regional instability, a strategy the source said has successfully cooled the immediate crisis.
The mediation comes as President Trump, who had vowed support to Iranian protesters and weighed military options, indicated a shift on Wednesday. He stated he had received assurances that “the killing has stopped” in Iran and that scheduled executions of detained protesters had been called off. Qatar, a key US ally with a history of intermediation in conflicts like Gaza, is reported to have played a central role in the efforts.
