Did Trump back down from attacking Iran? Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman averted the threat of a ‘major war’

New Delhi: Thanks to the diplomatic efforts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, US President Donald Trump has averted a potential attack on Iran. Officials from the Gulf countries said on Thursday that these three countries waged a “fierce last-minute struggle” to persuade Trump, giving Iran a chance to demonstrate its good intentions. This intervention came after the US warned of military action in response to the crackdown on protesters in Iran.

In response, Tehran threatened to retaliate against US military bases and ships in the Gulf. Tensions escalated to such an extent that US personnel were evacuated from the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. However, after pressure from the Gulf countries and assurances that Iran would not execute the protesters, Trump changed his stance. Saudi officials say this effort was made to prevent an “uncontrolled situation” and serious retaliatory attacks in the region.

A ‘sleepless night’ for the Gulf countries
According to an AFP report, a senior Saudi official said that Trump was convinced that an attack on Iran would pave the way for “catastrophic consequences” throughout the region. The official described this diplomatic mission as a “sleepless night of defusing bombs.” The Gulf countries not only spoke to Washington but also sent a strong message to Iran that if it attacked US bases in the Gulf, its relations with regional countries would be permanently damaged.

Activity returns to Al-Udeid Air Base
During the peak of tensions, the security level at Al-Udeid, the largest US military base in the Middle East located in Qatar, was raised, and some personnel were instructed to evacuate. However, after the successful diplomatic talks, the situation began to normalize from Wednesday evening. According to diplomatic sources, military aircraft and personnel are now returning to their previous positions, and the security alert level has been lowered.

Trump’s change of stance…
After a series of threats, Donald Trump’s tone suddenly changed. He said he had received assurances from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would not execute the protesters. Following this assurance, the US has temporarily shelved the military option. However, Saudi officials say that dialogue is still ongoing to strengthen trust and prevent a similar situation from arising again in the future.