Saudi Arabia tells Gulf allies to avoid any steps that could inflame tensions with Iran, sources say

Senior Saudi officials have expressed anger at the scale and timing of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The kingdom has told its Gulf allies to avoid taking any steps that could provoke a response from Tehran and escalate the region into a broader conflict. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed this message to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. This diplomatic effort is focused on de-escalation and unifying the foreign policy positions of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. The consensus is that Iran's retaliatory strikes were less intense than expected, and direct action by Gulf states should be avoided.