Middle East Powers Scramble to Broker U.S.-Iran Talks as War Looms
WSJ: Senior regional diplomat said several countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Egypt, are expected to attend a meeting in Istanbul. (Osint613)
Several Middle Eastern governments are urgently trying to facilitate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to prevent a potential military strike, but the diplomatic efforts have so far failed to gain traction, according to people familiar with the matter.
Egypt, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey view a U.S. attack on Iran as highly destabilizing for the region, with potential security and economic repercussions that could affect the entire Middle East, including American interests.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls Wednesday with Iran's foreign minister and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, but the discussions yielded no progress, according to people familiar with the conversations. Similar outreach by Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia in recent days was also unsuccessful.
Turkey has been particularly vocal in urging Washington to engage in talks with Tehran. Qatar and Oman have floated proposals for some form of nonaggression pact to revive negotiations, but these ideas haven't advanced, people familiar with the discussions said.
The initiatives have stalled due to Iran's objections to U.S. terms and Tehran's warnings that targets across the region would be vulnerable in the event of a U.S. strike. These conditions clash with Washington's push for rapid talks under the threat of military force.
President Trump began threatening strikes on Iran in early January, following massive protests challenging the Iranian regime. The threats come after a U.S. aerial strike in June 2025 that damaged Iranian nuclear facilities.
The U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the region, including deploying an aircraft carrier group, and is considering options for strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. Mr. Trump has indicated openness to a deal but warned of consequences if no agreement is reached.
Iran has signaled readiness for talks but rejects what it calls U.S. threats. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said diplomacy through military pressure is ineffective. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the start of nuclear talks and cited a halt in protester executions as a gesture.
Mediators are attempting to organize a meeting in Ankara or Istanbul between Witkoff and senior Iranian officials, potentially this week. No concrete progress has been reported.
A senior Saudi official denied reports that the kingdom was pressing the U.S. for a strike, affirming Saudi support for peaceful solutions through dialogue.
Trump administration officials have discussed strike options, including specific targeted sites. The U.S. is preparing to bolster air defenses in the Middle East before any potential action.