Report: Saudi Arabia, UAE urge US to maintain pressure on Iran

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates pressed Washington to maintain economic pressure on Iran and reject concessions on sanctions or the US naval blockade, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Iran holds sideline meetings at UN: Pakistan, Iran FM discuss 'regional & int'l developments' Their lobbying complicated efforts to revive negotiations to end the war. Mediators including Qatar sought talks in Oman as early as next week to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin winding down the conflict. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expected talks to resume soon. Gulf states generally opposed further military escalation against Iran, WSJ reported. But Saudi and Emirati officials hardened their positions after Iranian attacks on Saudi shipping and moves by Tehran’s Houthi allies in Yemen to disrupt an alternative export route through the Red Sea. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently told US officials the blockade should remain until Iran agreed to a new deal, according to the report. Saudi Arabia previously backed negotiations and was willing to consider an agreement recognizing some Iranian role in administering Hormuz. Hormuz diplomacy stalls UAE officials also questioned Tehran’s willingness to negotiate, citing renewed regional violence and attacks on ships. They said Gulf states should not accept permanent Iranian control of the strait. Qatar and Oman continued to push for diplomacy. Proposals discussed during a visit by Iran’s foreign minister to Doha included a seven-day pause in fighting that could lead to an end to Iranian attacks on shipping in exchange for lifting the US blockade. Washington repeatedly told Qatar that Trump had no intention of lifting the blockade, the WSJ reported. “While President Trump is open to talking with Iran under the right circumstances, he has no need to negotiate with the Iranians,” a White House official told the outlet. US President Trump says he hopes the fighting is finally coming to an end Arab mediators also described conflicting signals from Tehran. Iranian diplomats offered proposals and acknowledged the country’s worsening economic crisis, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rejected new negotiating formulas and said it was prepared for a prolonged war.