Several of America’s key allies in the Middle East are aiming to avert a military conflict between Iran and the United States by engaging in 72 hours of tough negotiations, a Gulf official told CBS News.
Countries participating in this diplomatic program include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Oman, according to a Gulf official. The talks are focused on lowering the temperature of civil debate and avoiding military action that these states fear could cause regional instability.
In the US, the message was to avoid strikes against Iran, citing regional security and economic vulnerability, while highlighting the risk that the US could also be affected in the end.
In Iran, the four Arab countries expressed that any attack on American facilities in the Gulf would have serious consequences for Iran’s relations with countries throughout the region.
Thousands of American troops are stationed in the Gulf region can be the target Iran’s possible retaliation if the US attacks Iran. The US he dismissed some workers from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar this week as a “precautionary measure,” a US official told CBS News.
Two media sources told CBS News on Wednesday that Iran has notified several countries that they will be the target of an Iranian missile attack if the US strikes. The US embassies in Qatar and Saudi Arabia told Americans on Wednesday to avoid traveling to military bases in those two countries.
“Altogether, there is an agreement that if this escalates to the armed forces, there could be many consequences,” a Gulf official told CBS News. “Tensions have calmed down for a while, but we’ll see. Next time will be important.”
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that many of the stories about Iran “were based on anonymous sources who pretended or speculated that they knew the president’s thinking.” Leavitt said Mr. Trump “continues to closely monitor” the situation in Iran, and will “keep all his options on the table.”
Asked for comment, the White House referred CBS News to Leavitt’s comments.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened to retaliate against Iran if security forces continue to crack down on protests across the country – raising expectations that the US could attack the military. Mr. Trump he told CBS News on Tuesday The US will “take strong measures” if Iranian authorities start hanging protesters.
The president be informed of the list of options could be used against Iran, including regular airstrikes and cyber and psychological operations aimed at disrupting the country’s communications and state media, CBS News previously reported.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Mr. Iran temporarily closed its airspace on Wednesday night, indicating it may have been preparing for war.
But on Wednesday, the president he suggested a military strike on Iran it may be imminent, telling reporters that he has heard that “the killing in Iran is stopping.” Asked if that means military options are off the table, Mr. Trump said: “We will look and see what the process is.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on the phone with the prime minister of Qatar and the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the last two countries announced X.
This negotiation campaign comes after seven months Mr. Trump ordered airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, amid a days-long standoff between Iran and Israel. That conflict ended in a ceasefire just two weeks later.
So far, the latest round of negotiations has not focused directly on any US-Iran nuclear deal. Current efforts are aimed at preventing an attack or further escalation, with the aim of creating an environment for eventual negotiations on a nuclear agreement and other issues.
