Gulf states urge US to avoid military action against Iran: WSJ

Several Gulf Arab states have quietly moved to restrain Washington from escalating toward military confrontation or regime change in Iran, even as senior US officials signal that force remains a serious option, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar have privately urged the Trump administration not to pursue attacks on Iran, warning that such a move would destabilize global energy markets and ultimately harm the US economy. While the three states have avoided public commentary on the unrest inside Iran, Gulf officials told the newspaper that their concerns have been conveyed through diplomatic channels.

Despite those warnings, US officials cited by WSJ said a strike on Iran was “more likely than not,” revealing growing anxiety across the region that Washington may be preparing for escalation regardless of regional opposition.

Saudi Arabia, long portrayed as aligned with US pressure on Iran, has meanwhile sought to distance itself from any military operation. Saudi officials told the journal that Riyadh has assured Tehran it would not allow US forces to use Saudi airspace to conduct strikes on Iran and that the kingdom would not take part in any conflict should hostilities erupt.