Worried about Iran's threat, U.S. media reports that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are lobbying Trump to avoid a ceasefire

Ask AI · Why have Gulf countries changed their stance and lobbied Trump to keep the war going?

【By Qiqian Qi, Observer Network】 

After the U.S.-Israel-Iran military conflict has continued for nearly a month, it appears that there may be a turning point: President Trump has recently hinted at “peace talks,” and then U.S. media floated a so-called “15-point ceasefire conditions” from the U.S. side. 

Although Iran has denied talks from multiple quarters, once word got out, some in Israel reportedly “can’t sleep at night.” There are also reports that Gulf countries feel worried. 

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal in the U.S. on March 25, an informed source said that Gulf countries are worried that if the U.S. and Iran were to reach a ceasefire, it would leave them facing an enemy that is hostile but also powerful. Therefore, they changed course from their calls for a ceasefire at the beginning of the war, and instead began pushing for this war to continue. 

Also, according to The New York Times, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed views this war as an opportunity to eliminate the “Iranian threat,” and has recently been urging Trump to continue the war against Iran. Saudi officials have denied this. 

**“Gulf countries do not want the U.S. to agree to a ceasefire”**  

Informed sources said Trump has shown a strong willingness both privately and in public, hoping to end the conflict through diplomatic means. However, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE are lobbying Trump, urging the U.S. to stick with the fighting until Iran has been weakened to the point where it no longer poses a threat. 

A draft obtained by The Wall Street Journal shows that Saudi Arabia is dissatisfied with the “15 ceasefire conditions” the U.S. proposed. Under the plan, Iran would have to make concessions at all major points of disagreement with the U.S. in exchange for the U.S. lifting sanctions comprehensively. 

Saudi Arabia and the UAE are worried that after the war ends, Iran will have a lasting impact on their energy exports and security. 

![](https://img-cdn.gateio.im/social/moments-a94ae43c38-ca7c0c3e7a-8b7abd-ceda62) 	On March 18, an attack hit Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City Social media    

The day before (on the 24th), several informed sources told The New York Times that during a series of talks over the past week, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed had been urging Trump to continue the war against Iran. In his view, U.S.-Israel military action is a “historic opportunity” to reshape the Middle East. These informed sources learned about the talks through U.S. officials. 

Informed sources said the message Mohammed conveyed to Trump was that it is necessary to steadfastly and completely destroy the hardline government in Iran. In his view, Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf region, and only by toppling its government can that threat be eliminated. 

However, Saudi Arabia denied that Mohammed had pushed to extend the war. 

In a statement, the Saudi government said: “Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, and this was the case even before the conflict began.” The statement noted that Saudi officials “maintain close contact with the Trump administration, and our position has not changed.” 

The statement added: “What we are most concerned about right now is protecting ourselves from daily attacks targeting our people and civilian infrastructure. Iran has chosen dangerous edge policies instead of serious diplomatic solutions. This harms all relevant parties, but the one most severely harmed is Iran itself.” 

When asked about the issue, Trump responded: “He (the Saudi Crown Prince) is a fighter; he’s fighting alongside us.” 

![](https://img-cdn.gateio.im/social/moments-dce112ad24-cfe8e7b60e-8b7abd-ceda62) 	Recently, Trump answered reporters’ questions about Iran Video screenshot    

**Iran continues to attack targets located in Gulf countries**  

Although Trump claimed that U.S.-Iran talks are “productive,” there has been no sign that Iran’s sustained bombardment of Gulf countries is easing in any way. 

According to reports from the UK’s The Guardian and Al Jazeera, from the evening of the 24th local time to the early hours of the 25th, both Kuwait and Bahrain suffered destructive attacks. In particular, Kuwait International Airport was hit by a drone attack, and air traffic was interrupted again. On the 24th, a Moroccan worker was killed in a drone attack in Bahrain, and another 5 UAE Ministry of Defense officials were injured in the attack. On the 25th, alarms sounded again over Bahrain. 

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted at least four drones overnight. 

The Guardian said Gulf countries had tried hard to stop Trump from declaring war on Iran, but as the conflict dragged on without end, their patience began to run out. 

At the beginning of the war, analysts and regional sources had previously said that Gulf countries’ dissatisfaction with the U.S., the “security guarantor” they had relied on for a long time, was increasingly intensifying. The U.S. was dragging these countries into a war they did not approve of—one that would impose heavy costs on them. 

Reports said Saudi Arabia changed its earlier stance and has agreed to allow the U.S. military to use King Fahd Air Base. Saudi had previously said it would not allow bases on its territory to be used to attack its long-standing rival, Iran. 

At a press conference on the evening of the 24th, Qatar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said Qatar is currently not involved in any mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran, and that the focus is entirely on defending the country. He also emphasized that rebuilding relations between the Gulf countries and Iran will be a complex process. 

On the same day, Anwar Gargash, a foreign affairs adviser to the President of the UAE, posted on the X platform condemning Iran. 

He claimed: “Since Iran launched its despicable aggression, our brotherly and friendly countries have maintained contact, and have clearly distinguished between which countries provide genuine support and which countries just talk. The UAE has proven it is capable of facing and enduring challenges. What we need is not equipment and troops, but clear positions and a clear understanding of who to rely on during difficult times.” 

**Iran: the U.S. version is not credible**  

On March 21, Trump had warned that if the Strait of Hormuz were not opened, he would strike Iran’s power plants, giving a limited timeframe of 48 hours. Iran then responded firmly, saying that by then, all energy, information technology, and seawater desalination facilities of the United States and its allies in the region would become targets of attacks. 

On the 23rd, Trump announced that U.S.-Iran dialogue “is productive” and that strikes on Iran’s power plants would be “delayed by 5 days.” The day after Trump released hints of “peace talks,” it was reported that the U.S. government, via Pakistan, submitted to Iran a conflict-ending proposal containing 15 conditions, covering the nuclear program, missile capabilities, and regional issues. 

But so far, Iran has taken a cool stance toward the so-called talks. Multiple parties in Iran have denied engaging with the U.S. side. 

On the 25th local time, Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, said that Iran will not conduct any direct or indirect dialogue with the United States. Previously, there were reports that Pakistan is actively facilitating U.S.-Iran talks. 

“We also heard similar reports from the media,” Moghaddam said. “But as far as I know, contrary to what Trump said, so far there have been no direct or indirect negotiations between the two countries.” 

But he added that “friendly countries” have held “consultations” with the “both sides,” aiming to end the war. 

On the same day, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Baghaei said at a press conference that during Iran’s diplomatic engagement with the United States, there had been “very disastrous experiences,” and that the U.S.’ claim that it seeks dialogue is not credible. 

“Look at the facts. Iran is being subjected to ongoing bombardment and missile attacks by the United States and Israel,” he pointed out. “So their so-called diplomatic mediation is simply not credible. Because they started this war, and they are still attacking Iran.” 

Baghaei mentioned that during negotiations over the nuclear issue, Iran was attacked twice within 9 months. 

He said this act was a “betrayal of diplomacy,” and added that situations like this “didn’t happen once, but twice.” Based on that, he said that currently “no one can trust the U.S.’ diplomacy.” 

**This article is an exclusive submission for Observer Network. Without authorization, it may not be reposted.**