Iran Warns Gulf States: New US Strikes Will Trigger Retaliation on Energy Sites
Iran has warned Gulf states that any new US attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the region, according to five sources familiar with the matter. The warning was conveyed through a flurry of high-level diplomatic contacts after US President Donald Trump threatened on July 28 to strike Iran's energy network and infrastructure.
Two senior Iranian officials, two Gulf sources, and a senior regional diplomat with knowledge of the discussions said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke with his Saudi, Turkish, and Qatari counterparts, as well as Pakistan's army chief. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Araqchi urged Washington's Gulf allies to use their influence with Trump to dissuade him from launching renewed strikes, warning that any attack on Iran would prompt retaliation against US assets and energy facilities across the Gulf. A senior diplomat summarized the message as consistent in every conversation: "We're ready to retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction across the region."
One Gulf source described the Iranian warning as unequivocal: "If America targeted Iran's infrastructure, they would retaliate by striking Gulf energy facilities and other regional targets." This diplomatic maneuvering underscores how Iran is attempting to use the threat of wider regional destruction as leverage against further US strikes, putting Gulf states that host US military bases and depend on energy exports in a difficult position between Washington and Tehran.
The warning was intended for every Gulf state, another Gulf source said, but was conveyed primarily through Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Iran has in recent years repaired ties with its Gulf neighbours, including former regional rival Saudi Arabia. Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia have all urged Washington to resume talks with Tehran and avert renewed conflict.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently spoke with Trump, urging him to delay military action, return to negotiations, secure a ceasefire, and pursue a diplomatic settlement, according to the senior diplomat and Gulf sources. On August 2, Trump said he agreed to cancel the attack on Iran "subject to being able to rapidly make a deal."
Riyadh's position reflects a belief that further escalation will only bring more destruction, one Gulf source said. "That is why it urged Trump to give diplomacy a chance." However, Saudi Arabia also made clear it would defend itself if threatened. The second Gulf source said Saudi Arabia warned that any attack on its territory would be met with a military response.
Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the Royal Court, said the kingdom's assessment is that further escalation is unlikely to achieve the desired result. "The Kingdom believes a combination of proportionate military responses and sustained pressure on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz offers the strongest path toward a practical diplomatic settlement," Shihabi said.
Iran's clerical leadership has repeatedly demanded the closure of US military bases in the Gulf and called on Gulf Arab states to stop sharing intelligence with Washington, which Tehran believes has been used to facilitate attacks against it. According to one Iranian official, Tehran's warning made clear that any new US strike would be met with attacks on energy facilities, refineries, electricity grids, water infrastructure, transport networks, and oil fields across the Gulf.
The developments highlight the fragile security environment in the Gulf, a region vital to global energy supplies. Diplomatic channels remain active as both sides weigh the risks of escalation against the potential for a negotiated settlement.
