Revealed: Gulf leaders seek Trump assist as they worry 'Netanyahu will pull the trigger'

Iran once had one of the most westernized governments in the Islamic world, but since 1979, the country has been under extreme fundamentalist Shiite rule. The Iranian government, after 46 years, remains hostile to the United States and Israel. And the regime in Tehran is also a foe of the Sunni fundamentalist government in Saudi Arabia.

But when U.S. President Donald Trump recently visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, officials in those three countries urged him not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

"Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states opposed a nuclear deal in 2015," Ravid explains in article published by Axios on May 29. "Now, they're among the most enthusiastic supporters of diplomacy. Flashback: At the time, the Saudis and Emiratis quietly backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public fight against then-President (Barack) Obama on the Iran deal and his threats to attack Iran."

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Ravid continues, "Now, they're worried Netanyahu will pull the trigger, or that Trump will give up on talks and opt for a military option himself."

Sources told Axios that the Middle Eastern leaders Trump met with — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed and Qatari Emir Tamim al-Thani — all told him they fear that if the U.S. attacks Iran's nuclear facilities, the government in Tehran will retaliate by attacking them.

"A source with direct knowledge said al-Thani told Trump the Gulf states will be affected more than anybody else in such a scenario," Ravid reports. "The Saudis and Qataris expressed concerns specifically about an Israeli military strike on Iran. The UAE also said it would prefer a diplomatic solution. All three leaders expressed support for Trump's negotiations, U.S. officials say. ….. Trump confirmed Wednesday that he cautioned Netanyahu during a call last Thursday against ordering a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as Axios first reported (on May 27).

Ravid add, "Trump said he believes the Iranian nuclear crisis can be solved with 'a very strong document,' which could be signed within the next two weeks."

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Read the full Axios article at this link.