Iran has warned Persian Gulf countries that it will strike their critical energy and strategic infrastructure unless they convince Donald Trump to stop planned U.S. attacks. Tehran issued the threat to deter new American military intervention following Trump's July 28 warning that the U.S. could hit Iranian infrastructure.
According to a senior Iranian official reported by Reuters, Iranian retaliation could target oil facilities, refineries, power grids, water networks, transportation systems, and other strategic assets belonging to Washington's closest Arab allies across the Gulf region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held telephone discussions with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, as well as the head of Pakistan's army. Araghchi asked U.S. allies in the Gulf to leverage their influence with Trump to prevent another attack on Iran, stating that while Iran was prepared to respond, a diplomatic solution was the best way to prevent broader escalation and destruction.
In related regional developments, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan signed a defense cooperation agreement in Jeddah on August 7 amid rising regional tensions.
Diplomatic Efforts and Demands for a Ceasefire
Following the Iranian communications, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contacted Trump to request that he postpone military operations, return to negotiations, seek a ceasefire, and pursue a diplomatic solution. Although Iran's warning targeted all Gulf states, Tehran conveyed its message primarily through Saudi Arabia and Qatar, countries with which it has recently improved relations.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman jointly urged Washington to resume negotiations with Tehran to avoid further conflict. A second Iranian official warned that a new round of U.S. attacks could turn the entire region into a fireball, while Trump stated on August 2 that he agreed to cancel a planned attack on Iran provided a quick agreement could be reached.
A Gulf source noted that Riyadh believes further escalation will bring only destruction, prompting its push for diplomacy while clarifying that it will defend its territory if attacked. Analyst Ali Shihabi, who maintains close ties to the royal palace, estimated that Saudi Arabia views proportional military responses combined with sustained pressure on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as the best path to a realistic diplomatic outcome.
Separately, international reports noted incidents occurring at the end of a mass mobilization in the capital of Argentina.
Base Closures and Memories of the Aramco Strikes
Iranian leadership has repeatedly called for the closure of U.S. military bases in the Gulf and urged Arab nations to stop sharing intelligence with Washington. An Iranian official recalled the September 2019 strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, which temporarily shut down over half of Saudi Arabia's oil production, warning that Iran would cause far greater damage if its own infrastructure were harmed.
A senior Iranian official assessed that Trump faces a choice between escalating a conflict that disrupts global energy markets or accepting a negotiated deal without appearing as the undisputed winner. A senior regional diplomat added that Washington's demand for an outcome it can frame as a clear war victory remains a major obstacle to reaching a deal.
Meanwhile, Trump's Peace Council awarded its first construction contract in Gaza to a Louisiana company to build a military base.
In European political news, debates intensified in the European Parliament over extra taxation on online gambling, pitting Malta against Peter Shilton.
