Israeli and Arab officials are urging US President Donald Trump to “hold back” on attacking Iran until the Islamic Republic has been further weakened by unrest, sources told NBC News on 13 January.
“Israeli and Arab officials have told the Trump administration in recent days that they believe the Iranian regime may not yet be weakened to the point where US military strikes would be the decisive blow that topples it,” the sources said.
According to the report, the officials have suggested that Trump “hold back on large-scale strikes for now,” preferring that Washington “wait until the regime is even more strained.”
One Arab source said there is “a lack of enthusiasm from the neighborhood” for US strikes on Iran, while another said there were concerns “any attack or escalation by Israel or the US will unite Iranians.”
“Israeli officials have told the Trump administration that while they fully support regime change in Iran, and US efforts to facilitate it, they are concerned that outside military intervention at this moment might not finish the job that protesters have started … the Israelis have suggested other types of US action aimed at destabilizing the regime and supporting the protesters could help further weaken the regime to the point where larger strikes could then be decisive,” other sources are cited as saying.
These potential actions include new sanctions, cyberattacks, thwarting Iran’s internet blackout, or targeted strikes on Iranian leaders, the sources added.
Another report, released by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), said Arab states led by Saudi Arabia and Oman were trying to prevent an attack on Iran.
“Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar are telling the White House that an attempt to topple the Iranian regime would rattle oil markets and ultimately hurt the US economy. Most of all, they fear the blowback at home,” sources told WSJ. “Saudi officials have assured Tehran that they wouldn’t get involved in a potential conflict or allow the US to use their airspace for strikes.”
The UAE “didn’t take part in the lobbying effort.”
Hebrew media reports from during the 12-day June war between Israel and Iran said Saudi Arabia provided Israel with intelligence support and opened its airspace to Israeli jets to attack the Islamic Republic.
Israeli outlets also said at the time that Tel Aviv’s warplanes shot down Iranian drones in Saudi airspace.
The new reports come as Trump is threatening an attack on Iran.
“Help is on the way,” the president said on Tuesday, addressing anti-government protesters and Mossad-backed rioters who have killed dozens of Iranians in recent weeks.
Iran has vowed a harsh response to any attack, including strikes on US bases as well as Israel.