Saudi Arabia has launched a diplomatic initiative with Qatar and Oman aimed at preventing a potential US military attack on Iran. The move follows Washington’s call for its Gulf allies to prepare for possible conflict, which has raised deep concern across regional capitals. Riyadh fears that any escalation could severely damage its economy and provoke domestic unrest, particularly if Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were to be killed in such an attack.

Gulf states are also worried about the security of oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway crucial to global energy transport. About one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments pass through this strait, which separates Iran from its Arab neighbors. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman have warned the White House that any attempt to overthrow Iran’s government could destabilize oil markets and ultimately harm the US economy.

According to reports cited from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Riyadh has assured Tehran it will not participate in any conflict and has refused to allow US forces to use its airspace for attacks. Gulf nations have also cautioned Washington against pursuing regime change in Tehran, warning it could trigger long-term regional instability.