Top Middle East diplomats have warned that a threatened escalation of war between the US and Iran would probably be even more damaging than the previous rounds of the conflict, which have destabilised the region and caused turmoil in international energy markets. “We are very confident that . . . the second round will be more dangerous, more destructive and it will lead to nowhere,” said Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday. “We are extremely worried,” he added. In Saudi Arabia, authorities on Saturday mandated remote learning for schools nationwide as missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen continued to target the kingdom. Qatar is leading regional efforts to mediate an interim deal between the US and Iran ahead of US midterm elections next week.
Iranian officials spent the weekend in Doha for talks with mediators after a Qatari delegation visited Tehran on Friday. There is concern in Iran and across the region that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are planning to launch a new intense phase of the war after Americans vote tomorrow, with the expectation that it will target Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, power plants and other infrastructure. Iran has promised a fierce response, prompting fears in the Gulf that the region’s energy sites and other civilian infrastructure, from airports to desalination plants, would again be targeted.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing