Iran has made a strategic diplomatic push by warning Gulf states that any new US military action against Tehran could trigger counterattacks on their oil, power and water plants — turning the region “into a fireball”
The warning is meant to prompt Washington’s closest Arab allies to urge President Donald Trump to end strikes on Iran and negotiate an end to the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made the warning to his Saudi, Turkish, and Qatari counterparts, as well as Pakistan’s army chief, sources told the outlet on the condition of anonymity.
Araqchi insisted the US’s Gulf allies dissuade Trump from launching renewed strikes on Iran — threatening prompt retaliation on US assets and critical infrastructure, such as energy facilities, oil fields, refineries, electricity grids, and water infrastructure.
The diplomatic notice was dispelled through a flurry of top diplomats after Trump threatened to launch attacks on Iran’s energy network and infrastructure on July 28.
“We’re ready to retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction across the region,” Araqchi implored Gulf state officials, a senior diplomat said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman subsequently spoke to Trump, pleading with the president to hold back from further military action, return to negotiations, and secure a ceasefire in the war that has wreaked havoc across the Middle East since late February.
Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia have all urged the US to resume talks with Tehran and deter continued conflict amid Iranian warnings that another barrage of the US’s military might could “turn the region into a fireball”, a second Iranian official said.
“Saudi Arabia believes further escalation will only bring more destruction,” a Gulf source said. “That is why it urged Trump to give diplomacy a chance.”
Trump agreed to cancel the attack on Iran on Sunday “subject to being able to rapidly make a deal.”
The warning comes as the US, Iran and Oman are reportedly nearing a deal that would temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and kick off another two months of nuclear talks — yet Tehran continues to insist that Washington has no part in the agreement.
The deal under consideration would establish a 60-day agreement between Oman and Iran for shipping in the strategic strait, US and regional sources told Axios.
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