Gulf states and Turkey warned Trump strikes on Iran could lead to major conflict

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Patrick Wintour Diplomatic editorJanuary 15, 2026 at 06:39 PM

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In response to fears of a wider Middle East conflict, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, and Oman lobbied Donald Trump against launching airstrikes on Iran. These US allies warned that an attack would lead to regional chaos, with Saudi Arabia even denying the US use of its airspace. This lobbying effort appears to have contributed to Trump's decision to hold off on military action. Simultaneously, Saudi Arabia and Iran have been working to improve relations over the past three years, with Iranian officials visiting Arab capitals. All Gulf states are aware of the potential disruption Iran could cause to maritime traffic in the Gulf. Recently, Iran has been trying to persuade Gulf states that Israel is more of a risk to global stability than Iran.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Gulf Cooperation Council 40% Prince Faisal bin Farhan 50% United Arab Emirates 50% Israel ×460% Oman ×260% Middle East ×260% Abbas Araghchi ×360% Turkey ×270% Qatar ×470% Saudi Arabia ×370% Donald Trump ×280% Iran ×790%

Keywords

iran 100% middle east conflict 90% us airstrikes 80% gulf states 80% saudi arabia 70% diplomatic relations 60% regional proxies 50% maritime traffic 40% israel 40%