Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman have led intensive diplomatic efforts to persuade US President Donald Trump to refrain from launching a military attack on Iran over its crackdown on protests, fearing that such a move could trigger “dangerous repercussions across the region,” a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the three Gulf states “led last-minute diplomatic initiatives to convince President Trump to give Iran an opportunity to demonstrate goodwill.”

He added that “channels of communication remain open and active to strengthen mutual confidence and maintain the current positive momentum,” amid growing regional concerns over the consequences of any potential military escalation between Washington and Tehran.