Hold Your Fire! From Bad to Disastrous: Will Trump Escalate in Iran?
15 snips
Mar 28, 2026 
Ali Vaez, Iran expert, outlines Tehran's leadership shift and limited off-ramps. Yasmine Farouk, Gulf director, maps divergent Gulf state responses. Mairav Zonszein, Israel analyst, explains durable public support and strategic aims. Stephen Pomper, policy chief, and Michael Wahid Hanna, U.S. director, assess Washington's decision-making, narrow counsel and the high risk of further escalation.
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Oman Frames The War As Caused By US‑Israel Action
- Oman blames the US-Israel initial attack for the war and positions itself as a steady intermediary with Iran.
- Yasmine Farouk emphasized Oman sees the problem starting when the US and Israel attacked Iran, shaping its more critical stance toward Washington.
Qatar Pushes Diplomacy After Ras Laffan Strike
- Qatar publicly urges diplomacy and explicitly called for the war to stop despite being directly hit at Ras Laffan.
- Farouk noted the attack on Ras Laffan shocked Qatar given its shared gas field and preemptive shutdown to protect the complex.
Saudi Arabia Is Central But Not Unified
- Saudi Arabia is angry and central to any off-ramp but internally divided; it will engage back channels while insisting on its right to retaliate.
- Farouk pointed to Riyadh's minilateral contacts with Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey as evidence of its interlocutor role.