Is Saudi Arabia, Oman 'working behind the scenes' for the Israel-Iran ceasefire?
As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates as missiles fly towards both sides, Iran has reportedly approached Arab nations seeking mediation efforts, according to a report. Tehran's leadership reportedly wants the nuclear talks to continue.
The Iranians, who are currently reeling under relentless Israeli attacks, have contacted Oman and Qatar, requesting that they mediate with Washington to halt the strikes, according to a report by the Jerusalem Post. It added that Saudi Arabia is also working behind the scenes to promote a ceasefire framework aimed at resuming talks.
However, the information cannot be verified as Iran had backed out of talks with the US, scheduled on Sunday in the wake of the Israeli attack on its military and nuclear facilities.
A ceasefire seems like a far-fetched idea at this point as Washington has clearly stated that the attacks will stop only if Iran accepts the American proposal which stipulates a total halt to Uranium enrichment. "We could easily reach an agreement between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!" US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday.
Regional experts fear that the Israel-Iran conflict will destabilise the Middle East as Iran may choose to hit back not just at Israel but at neighbours who are close to the US. The strikes could also destabilise Syria, where the success of the new government – or otherwise – will affect the wider region.
Meanwhile, Israeli fighter jets continued to pummel Tehran with over 50 jets operating over the skies of the Iranian capital throughout Saturday night, targeting facilities related to Iran's nuclear programme. Strikes were reported in Tabriz and the surrounding region, and explosions were heard in Mehrabad Airport in Tehran.
More than 80 targets in Tehran alone have been struck over the past 50 hours of military activity, with a particular focus on missile production and nuclear infrastructure.
The IDF has acknowledged the complexity of the mission, stating they knew it wouldn't be short or easy. "Iran has a large stockpile of ballistic missiles, but we are operating to limit their capacity to strike us as much as possible,” the official said.
Middle East