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A review of the positions adopted by Persian Gulf Arab states in recent days reveals a shift in their approach and strategy towards the ongoing United States-Iran negotiations, a change from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) talks of 2013-2015. Previously, Arab nations voiced explicit opposition to any nuclear agreement with Iran, prioritizing sanctions and coercive measures, and adopted hawkish stances to incite regional public opinion against dialogue or agreement between the two countries. However, since the initiation of indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran on April 12, 2025, these states have shown cautious and, at times, explicit support for the negotiation process, advocating for its continuation to reach an agreement that reduces tensions. Analyzing the role and approach of these countries will illuminate their objectives in these developments.
The Shift Begins
With the increasing prospect of United States-Iran dialogue, the United Arab Emirates was among the countries that sought to play a mediating role by conveying a message from the United States to Iran in March 2025. Anwar Gargash, an Emirati diplomat, traveled to Tehran to deliver a letter from President Trump to Supreme Leader Khamenei. The UAE’s transmission of the American message to Iran demonstrated both its close security partnership with the United States and its continued diplomatic relations with Iran, despite recent tensions. This action highlighted the UAE’s desire to maintain multilateral relations and de-escalate regional tensions. Following the UAE’s initial step, Oman, leveraging its historical mediating role and hosting the talks, significantly facilitated communication and indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran in the first round. Oman has long served as a diplomatic bridge, previously assisting in advancing dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
During the JCPOA negotiations, Saudi Arabia was considered a staunch opponent of the talks and the resulting nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran. However, driven by regional developments, particularly after October 7, 2023, and its own efforts to advance regional diplomacy and dialogue, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Oman’s hosting of the US-Iran talks. It emphasized its support for these efforts, advocating for dialogue as a means to resolve regional and international disputes, and stated its hope that the outcomes of the US-Iran talks would strengthen security, stability, and peace in the region and the world.
Furthermore, the visit of Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi Minister of Defense, to Iran and his meetings with high-ranking Iranian officials prior to the new round of Tehran-Washington negotiations in Rome indicate the country’s desire for security coordination, confidence-building, and the management of regional risks through dialogue. Meanwhile, given US pressure on the Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani government to sever trade and energy ties with Iran, Iraq is among the countries that will be most affected by the outcomes of the US-Iran negotiations. The result of the talks will play a significant role in balancing Iraq’s relations with both countries in the security and economic spheres. In this regard, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in a meeting with Saeed Khatibzadeh, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, in Antalya, welcomed the US-Iran talks and expressed hope that these negotiations would lead to positive outcomes that contribute to the realization of stability in the region.
In addition, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also welcomed Oman’s hosting of the negotiations. Jassim Al Budaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Council, expressed hope that these talks would be constructive, yield positive results, and open new horizons for cooperation between the United States and Iran, serving the security and stability of the region. Beyond the Arab states in the region, Turkey also adopted a positive approach towards the negotiations between the two countries. The Iranian Foreign Minister, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, while exchanging views on the latest developments in bilateral and regional relations and reviewing the progress of the negotiations, appreciated Turkey’s constructive approach in the indirect nuclear talks. This country’s positive stance towards the negotiation process indicates its desire to play a constructive role in regional diplomacy and, on the other hand, its efforts to maintain its balanced relations with Iran and the United States by adopting such an approach.
Drivers of Change
The welcoming of the negotiations and potential agreement between the United States and Iran by Arab countries, in contrast to their reactions to the JCPOA, is attributed to several factors rooted in regional, political, and economic circumstances. Arab countries, particularly members of the Gulf Cooperation Council such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, have moved towards de-escalating tensions with Iran in recent years. For example, the Iran-Saudi agreement in 2023, mediated by China, revived diplomatic relations between the two countries. Arab states are aware that the failure of negotiations could lead to an escalation of tensions. As a result, any military conflict could jeopardize the interests of these oil-producing states. Unlike the JCPOA negotiations, where some Arab states felt excluded from the process, in the current talks (such as those in Oman and Rome), these states have been kept informed through proper management of the dialogue process. This approach maintains the friendly diplomacy that the current Iranian administration practices in its engagement with regional governments.
Furthermore, Arab states such as Saudi Arabia have adopted more active diplomacy in recent years and, instead of confrontation, are pursuing dialogue and the political resolution of disputes, as they have become well aware that the cost of tension would be very high and ultimately would not yield significant benefits for them. The GCC statement supporting the US-Iran negotiations reflects this shift in approach, which is based on the principles of good neighborliness and respect for the national sovereignty of states.
[Photo by Khamenei.ir, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License]
Bahram P. Kalviri is a PhD scholar in Political Science at the University of Hyderabad, India. His research explores the dynamics of international relations in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on China’s evolving engagement in the region. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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