Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have told US President Donald Trump, during his recent trip to the trio of Persian Gulf states, that they oppose any possible US military strike against Iran, American news outlet Axios reports.
The US and Iran have held five rounds of nuclear talks since April 12 and are expected to meet again for negotiations aimed at reaching a new agreement. The two countries have been at odds over the level of uranium enrichment.
Trump said Wednesday he has personally warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to disrupt the talks.
Citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the ongoing talks, Axios wrote on Thursday that Saudi, Qatari and Emirati leaders all called on Trump during his visit to West Asia on May 13-16 to pursue a renewed nuclear agreement with Tehran.
In 2018, Trump walked out of the landmark agreement between Iran and several other countries that gave it sanctions relief in return for confidence-building restrictions on its nuclear activities.
Despite their past opposition to the nuclear deal, the three Persian Gulf countries now strongly favour diplomacy over conflict, citing fears that a strike would provoke Iranian retaliation, particularly since all three states host US military bases, Axios said.
Trump was told directly by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani that their respective countries would bear the brunt of any escalation, it said.
The Arab leaders are also worried about Netanyahu acting unilaterally or influencing the American president to abandon talks in favour of military action, it added.
Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi specifically expressed concern over an Israeli strike against Iran, reiterating their support for diplomatic negotiations.
Since 2015, when the nuclear deal was signed by Iran, the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, the position held by the three Persian Gulf states has shifted, as their current focus is now on regional stability and economic development, the report said.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have taken steps to de-escalate tensions with Iran, including high-level diplomatic visits.
A recent trip to Tehran by Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, who met with Iran’s Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, signalled Riyadh’s opposition to any military strike, underscoring the Persian Gulf’s new preference for dialogue and diplomacy over confrontation.
Saudi Arabia has gradually been normalising relations with Iran over the last two years.
