Nuanced Gulf Strategy — Gulf states balance diplomacy (funeral attendance, Doha talks) with firmness (Manama statement rejecting Iranian control of Hormuz).

Focus on Navigation & Stability — Emphasis on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and containing Iran’s regional interference.

Disciplined Engagement — Goal is to encourage positive Iranian behavior without granting legitimacy, aiming for shared regional security.

Anyone observing Gulf-Iranian relations will find that, between June 25 and July 4, three significant signals emerged: the ministerial statement issued following a meeting in Manama, the technical negotiation channel in Doha, and the carefully calibrated diplomatic presence in Tehran during the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Analyzing these signals together points to a shift in Gulf positions, from managing the military and security escalation that the region witnessed to attempting to find practical negotiated solutions built on solid foundations that secure the shared interests of all parties, without allowing Iran to exercise negative external influence. This means that the Arab Gulf states have not closed their channels of communication with Iran despite its recent attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain. At the same time, they have not allowed the course of the Washington-Tehran negotiations to proceed independently on issues that directly affect Gulf security.

The June 25 ministerial meeting between the US and the Gulf Cooperation Council was held in the Bahraini capital, Manama. It concluded with a statement welcoming the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 and positively acknowledging the mediation role of Qatar and Pakistan.

The joint........

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