Israel-Iran Conflict: Why Gulf Nations Seek Peace Amid Growing War Fears

As tensions between Iran and Israel spiral into open conflict and with United States inching closer to stepping in, the Gulf's wealthy neighbours find themselves on edge-watching, worrying, and working the phones behind the scenes.

While fighter jets scream across skies further north, leaders in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are engaged in round-the-clock diplomacy. Their mission? Prevent this dangerous escalation from exploding into a full-blown regional war that could cripple the progress they've worked so hard to build.

For these nations-whose ambitions lie in glittering skyscrapers, global business deals, and tourism megaprojects-the thought of the conflict spilling over their borders or destabilising Iran is a nightmare scenario. And as they double down on diplomacy, the clock is ticking.

“Peace and stability have been central to the rise of the Gulf powers,” explained Ali Shihabi, a commentator with close ties to Saudi leadership. In an interview with AFP, he revealed,“Saudi Arabia has been talking to Iran and the United States since day one.”

But he added a sobering note:“It does not look promising that something will happen very soon.”

Israel-Iran Conflict: Desperate Diplomacy on Speed Dial 

In the past week alone, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan have both spoken with Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The Emirati leader even reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin-Tehran's key ally-to explore potential mediation options.

Despite these efforts, real progress remains elusive. The war's eruption derailed promising talks between Iran and the United States that were being quietly supported by Gulf governments. These negotiations, brokered by Oman, were seen as a glimmer of hope for reducing years of mutual suspicion. But they've now been shelved-possibly for good.

Israel-Iran Conflict: Tempers Flare, Risks Rise 

The situation reached a boiling point on Tuesday. In a sharply worded declaration, US President Donald Trump called for Iran's“unconditional surrender” and even suggested assassinating its supreme leader-remarks that rattled nerves from Tehran to the Gulf.

Later that same day, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan confirmed that his government had been working behind the scenes to de-escalate the crisis.

“The president has conducted intensive diplomatic calls... to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading,” he said in a statement published by the WAM news agency.

He also delivered a stark warning:“Reckless and miscalculated actions could extend beyond the borders of the two countries.”

The message was clear: The Gulf may not be firing missiles, but it could easily end up in the line of fire.

Israel-Iran Conflict: Tehran's Red Line 

Initially, Trump had tried to coax Iran back to the negotiating table. But it didn't take long for Tehran to respond with defiance. A senior official involved in regional diplomacy told AFP news agency that Iran had informed both Qatar and Oman that it“will not negotiate while under attack.”

Even so, the Gulf's mediators aren't backing down. Oman continues its quiet but critical role as Tehran's go-to middleman. Qatar, which has previously helped mediate conflicts involving both Iran and Hamas, said it has been“engaging daily” with Washington.

Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani summed up the region's fear in a blunt social media post:

“It is not in the interest of the Gulf states to see Iran... collapse. They would be the first to be harmed.”

Israel-Iran Conflict: A Shift in Tone-but Not in Power 

The region's view of Iran has evolved dramatically over the years. Just a few years ago, Saudi leaders were advocating aggressive containment of Iran. Today, the tone is far more measured.

“Whereas the Saudis may have once called for 'cutting off the head of the snake', their approach toward Iran has shifted dramatically,” Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told AFP.

Indeed, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic ties just two years ago. The UAE, too, has worked to normalise relations with Tehran since 2022-despite having formalised ties with Israel in 2020.

Yet even with improved ties, the Gulf states find themselves largely powerless to influence the course of the conflict.

“The Arab Gulf states have almost no ability to shape Israel's or Iran's behaviour or influence the outcome of this war,” Alhasan said frankly.

“It is difficult to see how Israel's military campaign against Iran, whose objectives seem to have quickly metastasised from eliminating Iran's nuclear and missile programmes to overthrowing the regime, ends well for Iran's Arab Gulf neighbours,” he added.

Israel-Iran Conflict: A Delicate Balancing Act 

Caught between powerful allies and dangerous neighbours, Gulf leaders are attempting a delicate dance: appease the West, maintain open channels with Iran, and keep the war away from their borders.

So far, it's a balancing act that has spared them from the worst of the violence. But how long that lasts is anyone's guess.

For now, diplomacy remains their strongest-and perhaps only-weapon. But in a region where wars can ignite with a single misstep, even diplomacy may not be enough.

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