A senior Saudi official revealed on Thursday that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman successfully persuaded US President Donald Trump to halt a planned military strike on Iran.

The "frantic, last-minute" diplomatic effort was launched to prevent what Gulf leaders feared would be a "uncontrollable" regional conflict with catastrophic consequences.

The threat of US intervention had escalated after President Trump vowed to take "very strong action" in response to Tehran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.

Fears of an imminent attack reached a peak on Wednesday, leading to the temporary relocation of personnel from the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and increased security alerts for US missions in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Iran had warned that any U.S. strike would trigger immediate retaliation against American military assets and shipping in the Gulf.

According to the official, the Gulf trio urged Washington to "give Iran a chance to show good intention."

This intense 48-hour push—which reportedly included similar quiet interventions from Israel and Egypt—ultimately led President Trump to change course.

He later announced on social media that he had received assurances from "very important sources on the other side" that executions of protesters would not proceed, adding, "We saved a lot of lives yesterday."

While the immediate threat of war has subsided, the regional security posture remains alert.

Gulf officials emphasized that they also sent a stern message to Tehran, warning that any attack on US facilities within their borders would permanently damage Iran's relations with its neighbors.

"It was a sleepless night to defuse more bombs in the region," the Saudi official noted, adding that communication channels remain open to maintain the current "positive spirit."

Source: AFP