Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:14pm on 15 Jan 2026,Thursday International
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman mounted a last-minute diplomatic effort to prevent US military strikes on Iran, a senior Saudi official told Agence France-Presse Thursday. The Gulf trio led what was described as "a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort" urging President Donald Trump to give Tehran time to de-escalate amid tensions over protest crackdowns. The Saudi official warned an attack would trigger "grave blowbacks" and create "an uncontrollable situation in the region." Iran's envoy to Pakistan claimed Trump conveyed he didn't intend to attack and urged restraint. Trump later stated he received assurances from "very important sources" that Iran wouldn't execute demonstrators, reducing immediate tensions. Officials called it "a sleepless night to defuse more bombs." (PC: X)
