TWA
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Amid fears of regional collapse and widespread instability, Gulf Arab states have intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent a full-blown war between Iran and Israel. The past week has seen a flurry of communication between Gulf capitals, Tehran, and Washington, as leaders attempt to contain the spiraling crisis.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), historically cautious of Iran’s nuclear program, has reached out to both Iran and the United States in an urgent bid to calm tensions. Anwar Gargash, senior adviser to the UAE president, said Friday that diplomacy remains the only viable path forward.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. Our diplomacy, like many others, is working overtime,” Gargash stated. “If we try to solve every issue with force, we risk breaking everything.”
Tensions soared after Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran last week, reportedly killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, and targeting sections of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on Israeli cities, further raising alarms in neighboring Gulf nations.
Earlier this year, Gargash had delivered a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader from U.S. President Donald Trump, urging dialogue over nuclear concerns. Speaking Friday, he warned that further escalation would damage the entire region. “The language of war is silencing the voices calling for peace and shared prosperity in the Middle East,” he said.
Efforts to reduce tensions are underway across the Gulf. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Trump following the Israeli strikes, urging restraint. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani echoed the sentiment, calling for a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.
Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari stated Tuesday, “We’ve opened every possible line of communication to prevent this crisis from spiraling out of control. We are all looking for a way out of this dangerous escalation.”
President Trump, who was recently welcomed with lavish receptions and multi-billion-dollar agreements during his second-term visit to the Gulf, initially praised a new era of cooperation in the region. At the time, he expressed optimism about securing a deal with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. However, following Israel’s aggressive strikes, Trump’s tone shifted, suggesting potential U.S. military involvement — a prospect that has deeply unsettled America’s Arab partners.
Gulf nations, particularly those hosting U.S. forces, are concerned that retaliation from Iran could target American assets on their soil. There is also growing fear that Iran could shut down the Strait of Hormuz — a critical maritime route for global oil supplies.
While the Gulf has long criticized Iran’s regional policies and support for militias, recent years have seen a tilt toward diplomacy and dialogue. Regional analysts warn that a U.S. military strike could plunge the region into a prolonged and destabilizing conflict, with far-reaching consequences.
Experts suggest that a diplomatic solution — even a limited one that restricts Iran’s nuclear weapons capability — would be far more preferable for the Gulf than the chaos that might follow a collapse in Iran.
“There’s clear unease that further escalation — especially if it targets Iranian oil exports — could provoke blowback against vital Gulf infrastructure,” one regional strategist noted.
In a recent move, President Trump announced a two-week diplomatic window to allow backchannel negotiations and reduce tensions. This pause offers Gulf states a narrow opportunity to press for de-escalation, after a week of intense military exchanges that left the region on edge.
