According to a Reuters report on August 6, Iran has engaged in intensive diplomatic outreach with Gulf states in recent days, delivering a clear warning: unless these nations can persuade US President Trump to halt military strikes against Iran and pursue a negotiated end to the conflict, Tehran will attack their oil, electricity, and water supply infrastructure.
A senior Iranian official revealed that the warning envisions potential targets including energy facilities, oil fields, refineries, power grids, water infrastructure, transportation networks, and other strategic assets belonging to America’s closest Arab allies.
Sources indicate this diplomatic offensive is part of a broader Iranian strategy to deter further US military action by leveraging the prospect of severe economic chaos across the Gulf region. The message was delivered through a series of high-level diplomatic contacts following Trump’s July 28 threat to strike Iran’s energy networks and infrastructure.
Two senior Iranian officials, two Gulf sources, and a senior regional diplomat familiar with the discussions confirmed that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has communicated with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, and Pakistan’s army chief. All sources requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
The senior diplomat stated that Araghchi urged America’s Gulf allies to use their influence with Trump to discourage another round of strikes. He simultaneously warned that any attack on Iran would trigger retaliation against US assets and critical infrastructure in the Gulf region.
According to the diplomat, Araghchi’s message in every conversation was consistent: “We are prepared to retaliate, but seeking a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid broader regional escalation and destruction.”
One Gulf source said: “Iran’s warning was unambiguous — if the US attacks Iranian infrastructure, they will respond by striking Gulf energy facilities and other regional targets.”
This diplomatic push highlights how Iran is attempting to transform Gulf vulnerabilities into leverage, forcing regional governments to recognize that any new US-Iran confrontation could directly threaten the infrastructure underpinning their economies.
According to the senior diplomat and Gulf sources, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently spoke with Trump by phone, urging him to postpone military action, resume negotiations, achieve a ceasefire, and pursue a diplomatic resolution.
On August 2, Trump indicated he would agree to call off the attack on Iran “provided a deal could be reached quickly.”
Senior Iranian officials say that from Tehran’s perspective, Trump now faces two difficult choices: escalate the conflict, potentially engulfing the entire Gulf and disrupting global energy supplies, or accept a negotiated outcome that may fall short of Washington’s desired decisive victory.
The senior regional diplomat noted that one of the main obstacles to reaching an agreement is America’s reluctance to let Iran claim victory. “The US wants something that proves they won the war,” he said.
