Senior Gulf officials disclosed that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman undertook an intensive diplomatic initiative aimed at persuading US President Donald Trump to refrain from launching a planned military strike on Iran, according to reporting by Agence France-Presse. A senior Saudi official indicated that the three US-aligned Gulf states led a sustained, last-minute effort to encourage Washington to allow Tehran an opportunity to demonstrate restraint during a period of nationwide unrest in Iran. Another Gulf official confirmed that these discussions took place, underscoring the depth of regional engagement with the White House. The diplomatic push unfolded against a backdrop of escalating expectations that the United States might respond militarily to Iran’s internal crackdown, which had drawn international concern following reports of lethal force used by Iranian authorities to suppress protests.
Trump Signals Conditional De-Escalation as Gulf Mediation Continues
Following the Gulf-led outreach, President Trump publicly indicated a cautious shift in posture. Speaking from the Oval Office, he stated that the United States had received assurances from what he described as highly credible sources in Tehran suggesting that executions of protesters would not proceed as previously feared. He conveyed that Washington would monitor developments closely before determining next steps, signaling that immediate military action was no longer imminent but remained subject to Iran’s conduct.
Iranian officials and state media added context to these developments. After Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran had no intention of carrying out hangings, Iranian state outlets reported that Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old arrested during protests in Karaj, would not face the death penalty. Meanwhile, US and regional security postures adjusted in parallel with diplomatic signals. Personnel movements at Qatar’s Al-Udeid Airbase were partially reversed after diplomatic sources told AFP that the threat level had eased, with aircraft gradually returning to their prior positions. US missions in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, which had advised caution earlier in the week, continued to monitor the situation.
The human cost of Iran’s unrest remained central to international concern. Reuters reported that more than 2,600 people may have been killed during the protests and associated violence, while AFP cited human rights groups estimating the toll at 3,428. Together, these figures framed the urgency behind Gulf mediation efforts, highlighting how regional diplomacy intersected with US decision-making at a critical moment.