ALBAWABA- Officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Turkey reportedly played key roles in dissuading the United States from launching military strikes against Iran, according to multiple regional sources.
These last-minute diplomatic interventions warned Washington of the risks of widespread instability, disruptions to global oil markets, and the potential for a broader conflict if it proceeded with attacks aimed at weakening or toppling the Iranian regime.
Saudi Arabia informed Tehran that its airspace and territory would not be available for U.S. operations, while Qatar, host to the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base, highlighted the “catastrophic” consequences of escalation.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan publicly opposed military intervention, advocating dialogue and de-escalation. The push appears to have contributed to a temporary easing of immediate threats.
The development comes amid anti-government protests in Iran that erupted on December 28, 2025, triggered by economic hardships including the rial’s devaluation to over 1.4 million per U.S. dollar, inflation exceeding 50%, and shortages of essentials such as water and fuel.
The unrest has become the country’s largest challenge since 2009, spreading across all 31 provinces and more than 200 cities, with demonstrators demanding the ouster of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a move toward secular governance.
Clashes with authorities have turned violent, with rioters setting fire to buses, government buildings, and security vehicles. 89 buses alone were torched in Tehran. Iranian officials accused the U.S. and Israel of fomenting the unrest through smuggled weapons and foreign agents, labeling protesters as “rioters” and “terrorists.”
The government has responded with a nationwide internet blackout since January 8, deployment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in key areas, and a crackdown estimated by human rights groups to have caused between 544 and over 3,000 deaths, alongside thousands of arrests.
President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged the economic crisis but supported measures against “rioters,” while Supreme Leader Khamenei vowed no concessions to “saboteurs.”
U.S. President Donald Trump initially escalated tensions, warning of “very strong action” if Iran executed protesters and imposing 25% tariffs on nations trading with Tehran on January 12.
However, by January 14, Trump indicated a potential de-escalation, noting that Iran had halted executions of anti-regime demonstrators.
The shift reflects the influence of urgent regional diplomacy amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli planning for potential strikes on Iranian nuclear, missile, and security sites, even as international calls for restraint continue amid the unrest.
