Iran & The Gulf

Qatari leaders warned a massive US attack could trigger Iranian retaliation, cripple Gulf energy infrastructure and send oil prices soaring.

The US president said he decided to cancel the planned attack after an outline for a deal with Iran was reached. The understandings are expected to include the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the Iranian nuclear threat.

Mojtaba Khamenei has gone underground and cut off all technological contact to avoid detection. The Revolutionary Guards are trying to conceal his fate and deploying body doubles, while the Mossad and CIA embark on a dangerous human intelligence hunt. Can they locate his hideout, and would his elimination truly deliver a strategic payoff?

US President Donald Trump is preparing for a dramatic escalation in the war with Iran, with the White House considering strikes on power stations and energy facilities in Tehran.

Amid renewed escalation, Gulf states have asked Beijing to apply economic pressure on Tehran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea shipping route. China has extensive ties with Iran and considerable leverage over it, while also maintaining close relations with Gulf countries.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, US President Donald Trump is considering approving an air campaign lasting up to two weeks aimed at significantly degrading Iran’s missile capabilities. Senior US defense officials are divided over the scale of the response amid concerns about further escalation and dwindling American interceptors.

According to a Wall Street Journal report citing an Iranian diplomatic source, Tehran hopes US President Donald Trump’s desire to secure an achievement before the November elections will help it extract concessions from him. Meanwhile, in talks with Oman, Iran continues to insist on charging vessels for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran reports “progress” in talks with Oman over the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Politico reports Gulf states are struggling to agree on how to end the war with Iran: “They are coordinating their messaging to Congress and the US State Department, but there is no consensus among them.”

Regional sources say Iran’s president and foreign minister are trying to preserve the channel for talks with the US, but their influence is waning as the Revolutionary Guards are expanding their grip on key centers of power.