Gulf states say they want 'partners who respond in kind' from Iran as Egypt warns a second round of war would be 'more destructive'

Gulf Arab states remain open to negotiations with Iran but need a reciprocal response from Tehran, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said on Saturday 31 October at the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Iran International reported.

“Diplomacy needs partners, partners who respond in kind,” Albudaiwi said. He said Iranian attacks on GCC states had caused casualties and damaged civilian infrastructure, that “the GCC states were not a party to the war”, and called for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to return to conditions before 28 February, when the US-Iran war began.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said: “The second round will be more dangerous, more destructive, and it will lead to nowhere,” according to Reuters. Saudi Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji condemned renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and Yemen’s Foreign Minister Afrah al-Zouba said UN experts had documented Iranian support for the Houthis. UK Middle East Minister Stephen Doughty said Britain had deployed air defence equipment and personnel to Saudi Arabia.

Also on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said it intercepted and destroyed a “hostile” drone over the Riyadh region. Spokesman Turki al-Maliki said debris fell but caused no casualties, Anadolu reported. The coalition did not say who launched it.

Background: The Manama Dialogue is an annual regional security conference run by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. The Houthis have recently claimed attacks on Saudi airports (our earlier report).

US angle: US network MS NOW reported on Friday, citing three senior regional officials, that the Trump administration had briefed Gulf allies to prepare for a short round of strikes on Iran as soon as 4 November. The White House has not announced any decision.