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US Envoy to Visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar to Discuss JCPOA

The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley (AFP)
The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley (AFP)
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US Envoy to Visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar to Discuss JCPOA

The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley (AFP)
The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley (AFP)

The US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, has said Washington was ready for all options if Iran rejected to return to the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Malley noted that the US administration wants to resume talks in Vienna, "but it will not beg Iran to return."

"I will be traveling to Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, and Qatar in just a matter of days to talk about our efforts to come back to the JCPOA and the options we have to control Iran's nuclear program if we are not able to achieve that goal."

Malley confirmed that the US administration is discussing other options with European and regional allies and partners if Iran is not ready to return to the nuclear agreement.

In a webinar hosted by the Carnegie Endowment, moderated by Aaron David Miller, Malley said that if "Iran is not prepared to come back to the deal, then sanctions will remain, other sanctions will have to be enforced."

"We are talking to all our partners about what to do to try to get around back into mutual compliance."

He pointed out that misunderstandings marred the previous six rounds of talks in Vienna due to the Iranians' refusal to hold direct negotiations, hoping for a seventh-round as soon as possible with a realistic vision on how to return to compliance with the deal.

Malley indicated that all countries in the P5+1 group want to resume negotiations immediately and expressed concern about "some nuclear steps that Iran has taken whether its expansion of the nuclear program or lack of cooperation with the IAEA."

The US informed China that it prefers "a return to the JCPOA in which the sanctions will be lifted, and China can import Iran oil freely."

He said the new Iranian administration is different from 2016, stressing that Iran must decide if it wants sanctions relief.

"We will be prepared to adjust to a different reality in which was have to deal with all options to address Iran's nuclear program if it is not prepared to come back to the constraints of 2016."

On the repeated visits of Israeli officials to Washington and the Israeli warnings of a nuclear Iran, the US envoy said that the administration consulted with the former government and is now coordinating with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government.

"The government of Bennett wants to keep those differences behind closed doors as much as possible while making clear they have genuine problems, real problems, with the JCPOA. They want to work with us to see how to manage those differences in a scenario where we come back to the JCPOA and the scenario where we do not."

The Israelis have concerns about "Iran's nuclear program, but we are realistic. We know there is a good possibility that Iran will choose a different path, and we need to coordinate with Israel and our other partners in the region."

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Gulf

GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
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GCC Chief to Asharq Al-Awsat: Escalation Poses Grave Threat to Gulf Security

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is maintaining regular and active communication with all international parties involved in the ongoing conflict, as part of broader diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat Wednesday.

Albudaiwi said the GCC views the military escalation between Iran and Israel as a “grave threat” to the security and stability of the Gulf region. He added that the Council, through its official channels, continues to emphasize that “dialogue and restraint” remain the most effective path to safeguarding regional security and stability.

As military confrontations between Israel and Iran entered their sixth day on Wednesday, Albudaiwi warned that the situation was “unprecedented and deeply concerning”.

Albudaiwi also noted that the GCC’s 48th extraordinary ministerial meeting on Monday concluded that the rapidly unfolding events could spiral into a wider regional conflict.

He added that the Council is ramping up diplomatic pressure, calling on all international actors -- including the UN Security Council -- to intervene and prevent further escalation.

Albudaiwi also pointed to the unified Gulf statement issued after the emergency meeting, alongside individual condemnations by all six GCC member states. The declarations denounced Israel’s strikes on Iran and called for immediate de-escalation and restraint.

The Secretary-General underscored the bloc’s ongoing diplomatic push, noting that Gulf states have urged the United States to pressure Israel into accepting an immediate ceasefire.

The GCC is also advocating for the revival of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran, as part of a coordinated Gulf and international initiative to contain the crisis.

The GCC is holding regular talks with the United Nations, the United States, and allied nations as part of its diplomatic campaign to defuse tensions between Iran and Israel, Albudaiwi confirmed.

“These are the main formal channels for dialogue,” Albudaiwi told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that the Council has sent unified diplomatic messages rejecting the ongoing escalation and urging restraint.

The communications also included calls to revive peace efforts in the region.

He explained that the GCC’s diplomatic engagement spans official correspondence, closed-door talks, and meetings held within international frameworks, all aimed at restoring regional stability and absorbing tensions without resorting to military options.

“Through this approach, GCC states are pursuing a comprehensive and balanced diplomatic strategy that hinges on communication and coordination with major international powers and global organizations,” Albudaiwi said.

“The objective is clear: to contain the crisis and prevent it from erupting into a broader regional confrontation,” he affirmed.

Albudaiwi mentioned that the GCC has reached “advanced levels” of coordination among member states to confront disasters and emergencies, including non-conventional threats such as chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that Gulf states are actively engaged in joint preparedness efforts through early warning and detection networks, enabling rapid and coordinated responses to potential crises.

In light of growing concerns over potential fallout from Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC states are equipped with sophisticated radiation and environmental monitoring systems.

These systems allow for the real-time exchange of data via secure channels among relevant national authorities to detect any abnormal indicators at an early stage.

He said this capability is supported by the GCC Emergency Management Center, which plays a key role in coordinating simulation exercises and joint drills focused on unconventional weapons scenarios. These efforts span civilian, security, and defense sectors and aim to boost collective readiness, update national emergency plans, and improve response coordination.

The drills, Albudaiwi noted, are conducted in line with global best practices and are backed by intergovernmental agreements involving defense, interior, and health ministries, all designed to reinforce the Gulf’s collective security framework in the face of emerging threats.