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Riyadh and Abu Dhabi could be key to preventing a wider regional war after Iran and Israel exchange unprecedented attacks, Reuters writes, noting that the two regional leaders have the right network of ties to Washington, Tel Aviv, and Tehran to guide things onto a less volatile path.
A spillover that everyone is trying to avoid: “Nobody wants an escalation. Everybody wants to contain the situation,” a Gulf source with knowledge of his government’s thinking said. “The pressure is not on Iran alone. The pressure is now on Israel not to retaliate,” the source said, adding that a retaliatory attack by Israel on vital Iranian sites “will affect all the region.”
Saudi is working overtime to put a lid on the brewing conflict: Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan put in a call to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, state news agency SPA reported, while Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Salman reached out to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, meanwhile, spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani.
The Foreign Ministry urged both sides to “exercise maximum restraint” in a statement on X. It warned of the “serious repercussions” for the region if either took things to the next level. The statement came just hours after Iran fired over 300 drones and missiles in what is Tehran’s first direct attack against Tel Aviv from its own soil. Iran said it carried out the strikes on Israeli military bases under its “inherent right for self defense” after Israel’s unprecedented attack on its embassy compound in Syria.
We’ll stop, if you do: Iran said it has concluded its retaliatory action against Israel, but warned of a “considerably more severe” response if Israel responds, its mission to the UN said in a post on X. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz said his country will “exact a price” from Iran in return, according to BBC. “We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us,” Gantz said.
US President Joe Biden reportedly told Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu that America will not be involved in retaliatory action against Iran, Reuters reported yesterday, citing officials. Washington will help Tel Aviv protect itself, but has no interest in a wider conflict, White House top national security spokesperson John Kirby said.
