Latest news with #AliShihabi
France 24
11 hours ago
- Business
- France 24
Gulf states begin diplomatic scramble to end Israel-Iran conflict
As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the conflict's doorstep are engaged in frantic diplomacy to halt the war – but solutions remain elusive. A spillover of the conflict or the Iranian government's collapse are both worrying outcomes for the energy-rich region, which hosts several major US military bases. Peace and stability have been central to the rise of Gulf powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are pivoting their economies towards business and tourism. Hoping to avert the crisis, Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has been talking to Iran and the United States since "day one", Ali Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court, told AFP. "But it does not look promising that something will happen very soon," he added. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, and the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have both spoken to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in recent days. The Emirati president also held a phone call on Wednesday with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Iran, who offered to mediate in the conflict. Israel's launching of the war scuppered Oman-brokered talks between Tehran and Washington that were supported by Gulf nations, who have been pursuing a détente with their giant neighbour after years of strained ties. 'Reckless and miscalculated' On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warned it could easily assassinate its supreme leader, fuelling fears of American intervention. Hours later, the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Gulf country's president had "conducted intensive diplomatic calls ... to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading". Sheikh Abdullah warned against "reckless and miscalculated actions that could extend beyond the borders of the two countries", in a strongly worded statement published by the official WAM news agency. Trump had initially urged Iran to come to the negotiating table, but an official briefed on talks said Tehran told Qatar and Oman that it "will not negotiate while under attack". Oman, Iran's traditional intermediary, said it was engaged in diplomatic efforts as the daily strikes continue. Meanwhile Qatar, a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war and a negotiator with Iran in the past, has also been "engaging daily" with the US, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani warned on X that "it is not in the interest of the Gulf states to see Iran ... collapse", adding that they would be "the first to be harmed" by the war's repercussions. 'Almost no influence' An Arab diplomat told AFP: "Everyone in the Gulf is going to say we are better off making sure we have a deal with Iran, a diplomatic solution with Iran." Shihabi, the Saudi analyst, echoed the sentiment, saying the best outcome was "obviously an agreement between Iran and (the) US". Diplomatic intervention by Saudi Arabia, once a fierce critic of Iran, comes two years after they restored ties. The UAE, which recognised Israel in 2020, has also patched up relations with Tehran since 2022. "Whereas the Saudis may have once called for 'cutting off the head of the snake', their approach toward Iran has shifted dramatically," said Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. However, "the Arab Gulf states have almost no ability to shape Israel's or Iran's behaviour or influence the outcome of this war", he told AFP. "It is difficult to see how Israel's military campaign against Iran, whose objectives seem to have quickly metastasised from eliminating Iran's nuclear and missiles programmes to overthrowing the regime, ends well for Iran's Arab Gulf neighbours," Alhasan added.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Gulf states on Iran's doorstep scramble for end of war
DOHA: As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the conflict's doorstep are engaged in frantic diplomacy to halt the war — but solutions remain elusive. A spillover of the conflict or the Iranian government's collapse are both worrying outcomes for the energy-rich region, which hosts several major US military bases. Peace and stability have been central to the rise of Gulf powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are pivoting their economies towards business and tourism. Hoping to avert the crisis, Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has been talking to Iran and the United States since 'day one', Ali Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court, told AFP. 'But it does not look promising that something will happen very soon,' he added. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, and the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have both spoken to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in recent days. The Emirati president also held a phone call on Wednesday with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Iran, who offered to mediate in the conflict. Israel's launching of the war scuppered Oman-brokered talks between Tehran and Washington that were supported by Gulf nations, who have been pursuing a detente with their giant neighbour after years of strained ties. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran's 'unconditional surrender' and warned it could easily assassinate its supreme leader, fuelling fears of American intervention. Hours later, the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Gulf country's president had 'conducted intensive diplomatic calls... to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading'. Sheikh Abdullah warned against 'reckless and miscalculated actions that could extend beyond the borders of the two countries', in a strongly worded statement published by the official WAM news agency. Trump had initially urged Iran to come to the negotiating table, but an official briefed on talks said Tehran told Qatar and Oman that it 'will not negotiate while under attack'. Oman, Iran's traditional intermediary, said it was engaged in diplomatic efforts as the daily strikes continue. Meanwhile Qatar, a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war and a negotiator with Iran in the past, has also been 'engaging daily' with the US, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani warned on X that 'it is not in the interest of the Gulf states to see Iran... collapse', adding that they would be 'the first to be harmed' by the war's repercussions. An Arab diplomat told AFP: 'Everyone in the Gulf is going to say we are better off making sure we have a deal with Iran, a diplomatic solution with Iran.' Shihabi, the Saudi analyst, echoed the sentiment, saying the best outcome was 'obviously an agreement between Iran and (the) US'. Diplomatic intervention by Saudi Arabia, once a fierce critic of Iran, comes two years after they restored ties. The UAE, which recognised Israel in 2020, has also patched up relations with Tehran since 2022. 'Whereas the Saudis may have once called for 'cutting off the head of the snake', their approach toward Iran has shifted dramatically,' said Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. However, 'the Arab Gulf states have almost no ability to shape Israel's or Iran's behaviour or influence the outcome of this war,' he told AFP. 'It is difficult to see how Israel's military campaign against Iran, whose objectives seem to have quickly metastasised from eliminating Iran's nuclear and missiles programmes to overthrowing the regime, ends well for Iran's Arab Gulf neighbours,' Alhasan added.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
On the edge: Gulf states race to defuse Israel-Iran war
DOHA: As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the conflict's doorstep are engaged in frantic diplomacy to halt the war – but solutions remain elusive. A spillover of the conflict or the Iranian government's collapse are both worrying outcomes for the energy-rich region, which hosts several major US military bases. Peace and stability have been central to the rise of Gulf powers including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are pivoting their economies towards business and tourism. Hoping to avert the crisis, Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, has been talking to Iran and the United States since "day one", Ali Shihabi, an analyst close to the royal court, told AFP. "But it does not look promising that something will happen very soon," he added. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto Saudi ruler, and the UAE's President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, have both spoken to Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in recent days. The Emirati president also held a phone call on Wednesday with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, an ally of Iran, who offered to mediate in the conflict. Israel's launching of the war scuppered Oman-brokered talks between Tehran and Washington that were supported by Gulf nations, who have been pursuing a detente with their giant neighbour after years of strained ties. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender" and warned it could easily assassinate its supreme leader, fuelling fears of American intervention. Hours later, the UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Gulf country's president had "conducted intensive diplomatic calls... to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from spreading." Sheikh Abdullah warned against "reckless and miscalculated actions that could extend beyond the borders of the two countries", in a strongly worded statement published by the official WAM news agency. Trump had initially urged Iran to come to the negotiating table, but an official briefed on talks said Tehran told Qatar and Oman that it "will not negotiate while under attack." Oman, Iran's traditional intermediary, said it was engaged in diplomatic efforts as the daily strikes continue. Meanwhile Qatar, a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war and a negotiator with Iran in the past, has also been "engaging daily" with the US, its foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani warned on X that "it is not in the interest of the Gulf states to see Iran... collapse", adding that they would be "the first to be harmed" by the war's repercussions. An Arab diplomat told AFP: "Everyone in the Gulf is going to say we are better off making sure we have a deal with Iran, a diplomatic solution with Iran." Shihabi, the Saudi analyst, echoed the sentiment, saying the best outcome was "obviously an agreement between Iran and (the) US." Diplomatic intervention by Saudi Arabia, once a fierce critic of Iran, comes two years after they restored ties. The UAE, which recognised Israel in 2020, has also patched up relations with Tehran since 2022. "Whereas the Saudis may have once called for 'cutting off the head of the snake', their approach toward Iran has shifted dramatically," said Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow for Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. However, "the Arab Gulf states have almost no ability to shape Israel's or Iran's behaviour or influence the outcome of this war," he told AFP. "It is difficult to see how Israel's military campaign against Iran, whose objectives seem to have quickly metastasised from eliminating Iran's nuclear and missiles programmes to overthrowing the regime, ends well for Iran's Arab Gulf neighbours," Alhasan added.--AFP
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
The world has one last chance to save the two-state solution
Ali Shihabi is a Saudi author and commentator and member of the advisory board of the new Saudi region of Neom planned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The world should wait no longer to formally recognize the State of Palestine. This is not about sentiment or symbolism. It is about urgent, necessary action to rescue a peace process on life support. Recognition is a critical diplomatic tool to shift a stagnant and increasingly dangerous status quo.
Middle East Eye
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Saudi Arabia carries out arrests over sex work and 'immoral acts'
Saudi Arabia has carried out dozens of arrests in connection with sex work, street begging and human trafficking, days after a new unit was set up to tackle such issues. Last month, the interior ministry announced the creation of the General Department for Community Security and Combating Human Trafficking Crimes. Over 50 arrests have been made thus far, with the unit targeting mostly non-Saudi nationals. Three foreigners were arrested by police in Riyadh over allegations of 'practising prostitution' in a hotel. Elsewhere in the Saudi capital, 14 Yemenis were arrested for 'exploiting 27 children of the same nationality in begging'. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Meanwhile, Jeddah police arrested five foreigners for 'engaging in immoral acts in a massage and relaxation centre'. In al-Qassim province, a man and two women were arrested over sex work charges. The interior ministry said that the remit of the unit was to combat crimes 'that violate personal rights, degrade fundamental freedoms guaranteed by Sharia and the law, or violate the dignity of individuals in any way'. Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn), warned that the new unit's broad remit could lead to arbitrary arrests. 'The right way to police human trafficking or sex work is with clearly defined laws that narrowly proscribe conduct, not vague prescriptions about 'morality' and 'dignity' that open the door for arbitrary arrest and persecution,' she told Middle East Eye. 'Foreigners and migrant workers deserve the same due process protections as Saudi citizens, and that includes a warrant before they're arrested and an opportunity to challenge their charges before an impartial judge.' 'Tarnishing image' Ali Shihabi, a commentator with a focus on Saudi Arabia, said that the new unit was set up to address an uptick in foreigners engaging in sex work. 'The right way to police human trafficking or sex work is with clearly defined laws that narrowly proscribe conduct' - Sarah Leah Whitson, Dawn 'With easy visa access now many women have come in from abroad, stayed in hotels and advertised sex services,' he told MEE. 'It's mainly to address that phenomenon.' As for street begging, Shihabi said it was something authorities 'have been trying to deal with for years'. Khaled al-Sulaiman, a Saudi columnist, wrote in daily newspaper Okaz last month that the new unit would ensure that 'crimes involving immoral and prostitution activities' would not go unpunished. 'Our country has its own religious and social identity as the destination for Muslims, and no one should tarnish the image of Saudi society,' he wrote. 'While such immoral and illegal practices were previously carried out in secret, those who practice them today should never feel they can go public without consequences.' Since rising to power, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reduced the influence of notorious religious and morality police forces which enforced strict codes on ordinary people in Saudi Arabia. These were part of a number of social reforms in his Vision 2030 strategy to diversify the kingdom and improve its international reputation. Despite that, last year the kingdom jailed Manahel al-Otaibi, a fitness instructor, because of opinions she expressed online on women's rights advocacy and for wearing 'indecent clothing'.
