Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led urgent diplomatic efforts to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to step back from launching a military strike against Iran and to give Tehran an opportunity to demonstrate good intentions, a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday. Another Gulf official confirmed the discussions.
According to the Saudi source, the three Gulf states conducted “a long, frantic, last-minute diplomatic push” aimed at preventing a rapid escalation that could destabilize the wider region. The talks took place as fears of a U.S. attack intensified amid Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters.
As tensions rose, some personnel were temporarily withdrawn on Wednesday from the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the largest U.S. military installations in the Middle East. At the same time, staff at U.S. diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were advised to exercise heightened caution.
The United States had repeatedly warned that it could intervene in response to Iran’s actions against demonstrators. Tehran, in turn, threatened retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. military facilities and shipping routes. The Gulf region hosts a significant number of American bases and strategic assets, increasing the risk of broader conflict.
Two diplomatic sources told AFP that the security posture at Al-Udeid Air Base was lowered on Thursday. After a temporary evacuation of personnel, aircraft and units gradually began returning to their pre-Wednesday positions, with some military and civilian staff resuming their duties.
Following a series of forceful statements, President Trump adjusted his position, saying he had received assurances from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would refrain from executing demonstrators.
The Gulf-led diplomatic initiative sought to “avoid an uncontrollable situation in the region,” the Saudi official said. Washington was warned that any military action against Iran could trigger severe and cascading consequences across the Middle East.
“It was a sleepless night aimed at defusing multiple potential flashpoints in the region,” the official added, noting that communication efforts remain ongoing to reinforce trust and preserve the current positive momentum.
A second Gulf official said Iran was clearly informed that any attack on U.S. facilities in the Gulf would have serious implications for its relations with neighboring countries.