Iran has issued a stern warning to Gulf Arab states, urging them to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump to halt military strikes against Tehran and seek a negotiated resolution to ongoing tensions. The Iranian government cautioned that, should Trump continue with attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, Tehran would retaliate by targeting critical facilities in the Gulf, including oil fields, refineries, power grids, water systems, and transportation networks.
This warning emerged amid a heightened diplomatic campaign involving high-level contacts between Iranian officials and their counterparts in the region. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly engaged in discussions with Saudi, Turkish, and Qatari officials, as well as Pakistan’s army chief, calling on Gulf states to use their influence to dissuade further U.S. military action. A senior regional diplomat involved in the conversations said Iran conveyed readiness to respond militarily but emphasized a preference for diplomacy to avoid broad escalation and destruction across the Gulf.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently spoke with Trump, urging restraint, a return to negotiations, a ceasefire, and diplomatic dialogue. Gulf sources indicated that while the Iranian warning was directed at all Gulf states, it was primarily communicated to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Tehran has worked in recent years to improve relations with some Gulf neighbors, including former regional rival Saudi Arabia.
Several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, reportedly advocate for the resumption of talks with Iran to prevent further conflict. Iranian officials have described the situation as precarious, warning that renewed U.S. strikes could "turn the region into a fireball." On August 2, President Trump reportedly agreed to call off planned attacks on Iran contingent on reaching a swift agreement.
Gulf representatives expressed concern about the risks of escalation. One Saudi source said the kingdom believes that additional escalation would lead only to greater destruction and thus supports diplomacy, while also maintaining readiness to defend its territory if attacked. A Saudi analyst close to the royal court, Ali Shihabi, stated that Riyadh favors a combination of proportionate military measures combined with sustained pressure on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as the most practical path toward a diplomatic solution.
Iran's leadership has consistently demanded the removal of U.S. military bases in the Gulf and urged regional states to cease intelligence cooperation with Washington, which Tehran accuses of facilitating attacks against it. Iranian officials referenced the September 2019 strikes on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facilities as a reminder of Gulf vulnerabilities and signaled that any damage to Iranian infrastructure would be met with even more significant retaliation.
From Tehran’s perspective, the conflict leaves Washington with two difficult options: to escalate a conflict that threatens to engulf the Gulf and disrupt global energy supplies, or to accept a negotiated outcome that falls short of the definitive victory sought by the United States. According to a senior regional diplomat, a key challenge remains Washington’s reluctance to allow Iran any narrative of victory, with the U.S. described as seeking tangible proof of having won the confrontation.