Gulf states are working on a multipronged peace deal designed to prevent a renewal of war between Iran and the United States, according to reports. The proposal centres on reopening the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief and the withdrawal of Houthi forces in Yemen, with European powers pushing for the readmission of UN weapons inspectors to Iran as a minimum condition for US approval.
The multipart deal being brokered by Gulf states seeks to address several flashpoints at once. The plan would see the Strait of Hormuz reopen within days of economic sanctions on Iran being lifted, a timeline Iran has offered to shorten from seven days to four. Dr Ali Bagheri, the deputy secretary of Iran's national security council, said Iran was willing to make the reduction as a sign of flexibility.
Iran is also beginning to acknowledge its mediating role in the Yemen conflict. Iran's secretary of the supreme national security council, Mohsen Rezaei, recently met the Houthi ambassador to Iran, following a delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan that travelled to Tehran to discuss Saudi terms for ending the conflict. In return, the Houthis are demanding that Saudi Arabia lift what they regard as a naval and air blockade on their territory.
A key sticking point remains Iran's nuclear programme. The British foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, urged Iran to readmit UN weapons inspectors, but Iran has so far refused, saying it will only hold talks in principle. European diplomats believe allowing inspectors to visit bombed nuclear sites is a minimum requirement for a breakthrough with US president Donald Trump. Iran, however, successfully prevented discussion of its nuclear programme at the recent meeting, steering the conversation towards a long-term regional security vision that would reduce the US presence in the Middle East.
Oman's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, a key advocate of an inclusive security plan, said: "I think if Iran is fully re-engaged in this idea of having all of us, eight countries at peace with the rest of the world, the economic potential is going to be enormous for all of us in the region and those outside the region who choose to take part in this development. We have really discussed this in at length during the talks between Iran and the United States, and I think there is general acceptance that this will be the direction of travel once we have a deal in place at the end of the day."
Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, underlined the importance of a postwar security pact, saying: "Recently, there has been talk of a new war but I am already thinking about the postwar period. Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- A full-scale war between the US and Iran would destabilise the entire Middle East and disrupt global energy supplies, with oil prices already above $117 a barrel.
- The talks represent a rare attempt to create a new regional security framework that integrates Iran after decades of isolation.
- The outcome will determine the future of the Yemen conflict and the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Background
Tensions between Iran and the US have escalated over Iran's nuclear programme and its support for groups like Yemen's Houthis. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil chokepoint, was closed by Iran as part of the dispute. The US has previously carried out strikes on Iran, and the region has been on edge for a renewal of direct conflict. Iran has been ostracised by many Gulf states since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Key Perspectives
Gulf states (via Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi): believe the region is moving towards an eight-country security pact that includes Iran, with the US administration accepting this as the direction of travel.
Iran (via FM Abbas Araghchi and Dr Ali Bagheri): prioritises a postwar security order and sanctions relief, offering to reopen the Strait in four days and showing flexibility on timing, but refusing to readmit nuclear inspectors before broader talks.
European and US officials: consider the readmission of UN weapons inspectors to Iran a minimum requirement for a breakthrough with President Trump.
What to Watch
- Whether Iran shifts its stance on UN weapons inspectors, a key demand from European powers and the US.
- How the Houthis respond to proposals requiring them to withdraw forces in Yemen.
- Oil price movements as a barometer of market confidence in the talks.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe headline says Gulf states are crafting a plan to avert a US-Iran conflict.World news | The Guardian: “Gulf states working on multipart peace deal to avert renewal of US-Iran war.”
- Partly supportedThe summary says the deal ties Hormuz’s reopening to sanctions relief, a Yemen withdrawal and potential nuclear inspections.World news | The Guardian: “The US is aware of the talks’ progress but is holding out for a concession that European powers suggest could involve Iran allowing UN weapons inspectors back into the country.”
- Partly supportedThe proposal centres on reopening Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief and the withdrawal of Houthi forces in Yemen.World news | The Guardian: “A multipronged peace deal to reopen the strait of Hormuz within four days of sanctions being lifted and for the Houthis to withdraw substantial forces inside Yemen are at the heart of Gulf states’ plans”
- Partly supportedEuropean powers are pushing for inspectors’ return as a minimum condition for US approval.World news | The Guardian: “European diplomats believe allowing weapons inspectors to reenter Iran and visit its bombed nuclear sites is a minimum requirement for a breakthrough with the US president, Donald Trump.”
- SupportedThe plan would reopen Hormuz within days of sanctions being lifted, with Iran offering to shorten the timeline from seven days to four.World news | The Guardian: “Dr Ali Bagheri, the deputy secretary of Iran’s national security council, said Iran was willing to reduce its proposal that the strait reopen seven days after economic sanctions are lifted to four days.”
- Partly supportedDr Ali Bagheri said Iran was willing to shorten the timeline as a sign of flexibility.World news | The Guardian: “Dr Ali Bagheri, the deputy secretary of Iran’s national security council, said Iran was willing to reduce its proposal that the strait reopen seven days after economic sanctions are lifted to four days. In a further sign of flexibility, Iran is starting to acknowledge it has a mediating role in the parallel conflict in Yemen.”
- SupportedMohsen Rezaei met the Houthi ambassador after a delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan travelled to Tehran.World news | The Guardian: “Iran’s secretary of the supreme national security council, Mohsen Rezaei, met the Houthi’s ambassador to Iran, Ibrahim al-Dulaimi, on Tuesday. The meeting took place 24 hours after a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan travelled to Tehran”
- SupportedThe Houthis are demanding that Saudi Arabia lift what they regard as a naval and air blockade on their territory.World news | The Guardian: “In return the Houthis are demanding that Saudi Arabia lift what it regards as a naval and air blockade on Houthi-held territory.”
- Partly supportedIran has refused inspectors’ return, saying it will only hold talks in principle.World news | The Guardian: “The British foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, urged the Iranians to agree to readmit the UN weapons inspectors when he met the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in New York but so far Iran has refused, saying it will only hold talks in principle on its nuclear programme.”
- SupportedIran prevented discussion of its nuclear programme at the meeting and shifted the focus to a long-term regional security vision that would reduce or end the US presence in the Middle East.World news | The Guardian: “Iran successfully prevented discussion of its nuclear programme at the meeting with Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and instead ensured the focus was a broader discussion about a long-term regional security vision that would include the Gulf states and Iran and see the US presence in the Middle East reduced or ended.”
- SupportedOman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said: “I think if Iran is fully re-engaged in this idea of having all of us, eight countries at peace with the rest of the world, the economic potential is going to be enormous for all of us in the region and those outside the region who choose to take part in this development.”World news | The Guardian: ““I think if Iran is fully re-engaged in this idea of having all of us, eight countries at peace with the rest of the world, the economic potential is going to be enormous for all of us in the region and those outside the region who choose to take part in this development.”
- SupportedAbbas Araghchi said: “Recently, there has been talk of a new war but I am already thinking about the postwar period. Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same.”World news | The Guardian: “saying: “Recently, there has been talk of a new war but I am already thinking about the postwar period. Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same.””
