Reuters reported on the 5th (local time) that behind U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threat of a massive airstrike against Iran and its abrupt cancellation five days later was Iran's strategy of warning of a "sea of fire" by taking Persian Gulf nations (hereafter Gulf states) hostage.

This warning was conveyed through a series of high-level diplomatic contacts following President Trump's threat on July 28.

According to Reuters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, as well as Pakistan's chief of army staff.

He warned Gulf states that any new U.S. attack on Iranian territory would trigger retaliation against core regional energy infrastructure, urging them to use their influence to prevent Trump from launching another attack. A diplomat in the Middle East stated that Araghchi delivered a consistent message across all conversations, the gist of which was, "We (Iran) are ready to retaliate, but finding a diplomatic solution is the best way to avoid wider escalation and destruction in the region."

A Gulf source said, "Iran's warning was clear. If the United States targeted Iranian infrastructure, they would retaliate by hitting energy facilities in the Gulf region and other regional targets."

Reuters pointed out that Iran's issuing of retaliatory threats against the Gulf states was aimed at raising the costs for the U.S. if it took military action.

In other words, Iran effectively prevented a U.S. attack by using the Gulf states caught between the U.S. and Iran as hostages.

According to sources, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman subsequently spoke with President Trump by phone, urging him to delay military action, resume negotiations, and pursue a diplomatic solution.

Another source noted that while this warning was directed at all Gulf states, it was channeled primarily through Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Another Iranian government official stated that as Iran issued warnings that "the region could become a ball of fire" (if the U.S. attacks Iran again), Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia all urged the U.S. side to resume dialogue with Iran.

On August 2, President Trump said he agreed to call off the strike on Iran "on the condition that a deal can be reached quickly."

Ali Shihabi, a Saudi analyst close to the Saudi royal court, stated that it was Saudi Arabia's assessment that further escalation was unlikely to achieve the desired outcome.

Shihabi said, "The Kingdom believes that combining a proportional military response with sustained pressure on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is the strongest path toward a practical diplomatic solution."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)