MANAMA, Bahrain - The looming possibility of U.S. strikes on Iran has been met with weary nervousness in the Persian Gulf, as Gulf officials double down on efforts to break through a U.S.-Iran impasse that they know will leave their region vulnerable.
Publicly and privately, leaders in Persian Gulf nations, which bore the brunt of Iranian retaliation because they are home to U.S. bases, are calling for de-escalation as concerns about President Donald Trump's war plans grow. Mediators from Qatar arrived in Tehran on Friday as part of the efforts to negotiate an end to the war, according to a person briefed on the talks, who described the trip as a "last-ditch effort to broker an interim deal between Iran and the U.S." that was happening "in coordination with the U.S."
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Trump has seemed open to a deal - but also to resuming strikes, according to a separate official briefed on the talks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and envoy, have been pushing for a deal, the official added, as others - including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth - appear opposed to it.
"The next two days will be crucial in determining how the situation unfolds," said an Iranian official, who like some others interviewed for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. The Americans, they added, are "seeking a positive breakthrough" ahead of the midterm elections.

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