For decades, Iran’s relationship with its Arab Gulf neighbors has been defined by mutual suspicion, regional competition, and geopolitical rivalry. Yet in an era marked by Israel’s increasingly aggressive behavior, Washington’s unwavering support for Tel Aviv, and shifting alliances across the Middle East, a new window for rapprochement between Tehran and the Arab Gulf states has opened-one that hinges not solely on nuclear enrichment or sanctions, but on the future of Palestine.

Unlike the 2015 negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), today’s nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, mediated in Muscat, Oman, include a broader and more consequential agenda. According to Mohammed Saleh Sadiqian, a prominent Iran-based analyst, the Iranian delegation delivered a 10-point “negotiations framework” to US envoy Steve Witkoff on the opening day of the talks. The final and arguably most pivotal point asserted that the Palestinian issue remains the principal source of regional tension-one that cannot be resolved without serious international and regional engagement.

This bold inclusion of Palestine marks a fundamental shift in the diplomatic landscape. It signals that Iran seeks to expand the scope of nuclear talks into a regional dialogue that addresses core grievances long held by Arab states. In doing so, Tehran is positioning itself not only as a counterweight to Israel’s regional aggression, but also as a potential partner to the Gulf states in achieving a long-elusive solution to the Palestinian plight.

Point nine of the Iranian framework reiterates this collective responsibility, asserting that peace in the Middle East cannot rest on Iranian shoulders........

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