RIYADH: On Thursday, the Gulf states sought a place in any discussions between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East conflict. We emphasize the importance of involving the GCC countries in any talks or agreements to resolve this crisis, in order to strengthen their security and stability,” said Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi.
Al-Budaiwi accused Iran of demanding fees from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He was backed by Lloyd’s List Intelligence, a nautical data company that claimed the strait was a “de facto toll booth. In apparently contradicting pronouncements on Thursday, Donald Trump warned Iran had to “get serious” about negotiations or face the consequences, while still insisting Tehran was desperate for discussions to begin.
The US president stated on social media that Tehran must negotiate an end to the war “before it is too late, because once that happens, there is no turning back, and it won’t be pretty!” Later, he told a Cabinet meeting: “They’re pleading for a deal, not me. They are not fools; in fact, they are rather intelligent in certain ways. I call them bad warriors, but they’re fantastic negotiators.” Iran allowed 10 oil tankers to travel through the strait this week as a “present” to demonstrate its commitment to negotiations, Trump claimed.
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