Saudi Arabia has been reinforcing direct contact with Iran to try to contain the war in the Middle East, which has been causing damage in the region and increasing tension in global markets, according to European authorities.
In recent days, Saudi diplomats have engaged more frequently and urgently the backchannel with Tehran to try to cool the temperature of the conflict and avoid an escalation, these sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations. According to them, several European and Middle Eastern countries support this initiative.
The talks involve intelligence services and diplomats, but it is not clear whether higher-level authorities are also participating. So far, Iran has shown little willingness to negotiate with the United States or Israel. The Saudi Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Iran has been reacting to the attacks by the United States and Israel, which began on February 28, with missile strikes and drone incursions. Gulf countries have urged Tehran to refrain from attacking them, and both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have already made clear that they will not allow the United States and Israel to use their territory or airspace for offensives against the Islamic Republic.
Publicly, both the United States and Israel as well as Iran say that the conflict will continue. The American president, Donald Trump, stated on Friday that he would only accept Tehran’s “unconditional surrender”.
Historically, the Gulf’s Sunni monarchies have maintained tense relations with Iran, which is majority Shiite. Even so, in recent years, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had been seeking a rapprochement and, before the start of hostilities, argued that Iran should close a diplomatic deal with the United States in negotiations mediated by Oman.
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