Gulf states and Turkey urged Trump not to launch strikes against Iran
The Guardian • • general
Key Points:
- Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman urged President Donald Trump not to launch airstrikes against Iran, fearing a major, intractable conflict in the Middle East; Saudi Arabia denied the US use of its airspace for attacks.
- Despite political tensions, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has improved relations with Gulf states through diplomatic visits, highlighting a cautious recovery in Saudi-Iranian ties over the past three years.
- Gulf states remain concerned about Iran's potential to disrupt maritime traffic, but Araghchi has sought to portray Israel as a greater threat to regional stability, especially after Israel's failed bombing in Doha targeting Hamas negotiators.
- The US withdrew key personnel from its largest regional airbase in Qatar amid
