The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates all argued against a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities during President Trump's recent visit and encouraged him to continue pushing for a new nuclear deal, three sources with knowledge of the talks tell Axios.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states opposed a nuclear deal in 2015. Now they're among the most enthusiastic supporters of diplomacy. Flashback: At the time, the Saudis and Emiratis quietly backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public fight against then-President Obama on the Iran deal and his threats to attack Iran. Now, they're worried Netanyahu will pull the trigger, or that Trump will give up on talks and opt for a military option himself.
Behind the scenes: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani all told Trump they worry that if Iran's nuclear sites are attacked, their countries will be targeted for Iranian retaliation. All three host U.S. military bases. A source with direct knowledge said al-Thani told Trump the Gulf states will be affected more than anybody else in such a scenario. The Saudis and Qataris expressed concerns specifically about an Israeli military strike on Iran. The UAE also said it would prefer a diplomatic solution.All three leaders expressed support for Trump's negotiations, U.S. officials say. Saudi, Qatari and Emirati officials declined to comment.
State of play: Trump confirmed Wednesday that he cautioned Netanyahu during a call last Thursday against ordering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as Axios first reported. (Read More)
