Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a dramatic turn in the escalating crisis between the United States and Iran, Israeli and Arab leaders have pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to refrain from launching military strikes against Tehran, following one of the deadliest domestic crackdowns in the Islamic Republic’s recent history.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, alarmed by the potential for Iranian retaliation, personally urged Trump against immediate military action. That appeal came as the Trump administration weighed a range of responses to the Iranian government’s brutal suppression of nationwide protests that erupted in late December and have since claimed thousands of lives.
White House officials privately convened national security advisers earlier this week to discuss potential military options, even as Trump publicly cited information from “very important sources” indicating that Iranian authorities had halted killings and suspended executions of protesters. The president described this as “good news” and suggested that violence might be easing, though independent verification remains limited.
The protests, which began in December 2025 and spread rapidly across Iran’s provinces, were initially driven by economic discontent and have since broadened into widespread demands for political change. Human rights monitors and activist networks report that Iranian security forces have killed thousands of demonstrators, with some estimates placing the toll well above 2,500. In response, authorities imposed extensive internet shutdowns and communications blackouts in a bid to quell dissent and limit outside reporting.
Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Egypt, have played a key role behind the scenes in urging Washington to exercise restraint. Officials from these countries warned that a U.S. strike on Iran could provoke retaliation not just against American forces but also against neighboring states hosting U.S. military bases, and could destabilize an already fragile region. Some of these governments have been coordinating their diplomatic messages both to U.S. policymakers and directly to Tehran.
Qatar, which hosts the Al Udeid Air Base the largest U.S. installation in the Middle East, has already seen precautionary drawdowns of personnel amid the heightened tensions, reflecting concerns over possible Iranian reprisals.
The Trump administration’s deliberations follow a week of sharp rhetoric. The president had previously warned of “very strong action” should Iran proceed with executions of detained protesters, and his advisors explored options ranging from increased sanctions and cyber operations to targeted military strikes. However, Trump’s threat of force has been tempered by allied pressure and emerging reports that Tehran may have paused some of its harshest measures against detainees.
Iran’s leadership, for its part, has rejected U.S. interference and threatened retaliation against American assets and allies in the region should military action commence. Iranian officials have also defended the crackdown, framing it as necessary to restore order amid what they describe as foreign-inspired unrest.
International reaction has been mixed. The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session at the request of the United States, highlighting both global concern over the lethal suppression of protests and calls for diplomatic engagement. European nations and the G7 have threatened enhanced sanctions targeting Iranian officials involved in the violence, while urging a measured approach that avoids military escalation.
Critics within the United States, including some lawmakers, have voiced frustration with the administration’s apparent shift away from more forceful responses, arguing that regional allies may be shielding Tehran from accountability. Nevertheless, the broader geopolitical calculation appears to favor avoiding open conflict at a time when tensions remain high and the risk of wider war looms large.
As of now, the decision on whether to pursue military action remains unresolved. Trump has indicated that all options stay on the table should Iran resume executions or escalate its repression, but for the moment Washington appears to be relying on diplomatic pressure and targeted sanctions while monitoring developments inside Iran.
The situation underscores the complex interplay between domestic upheaval in Iran, regional strategic concerns among Middle Eastern states, and the United States’ efforts to balance human rights advocacy with broader security interests. Whatever path the crisis takes next, the dynamics shaping Washington’s decisions from Gulf diplomacy to protests on the streets of Tehran, will continue to reverberate across the region.
