Gulf states push multipart deal to avert new US-Iran war

Tehran — Gulf states are assembling a multipart peace deal aimed at averting what they regard as a disastrous renewal of war between Iran and the United States, the Guardian reports. At its heart: reopening the strait of Hormuz within four days of sanctions being lifted on Iran, and a substantial withdrawal of Houthi forces inside Yemen.

Washington is aware of the talks' progress but is holding out for a concession that European powers suggest could involve Iran readmitting UN weapons inspectors. British foreign secretary Ed Miliband pressed Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on the point in New York; Iran has so far refused, saying it will only hold talks in principle on its nuclear programme.

Tehran's focus is sanctions relief. Dr Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran's national security council, said Iran was willing to cut its proposal for reopening the strait from seven days after sanctions are lifted to four. In another sign of flexibility, security council secretary Mohsen Rezaei met the Houthi ambassador, Ibrahim al-Dulaimi, a day after a high-level Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani delegation visited Tehran to discuss ending the Yemen war. The Houthis, in turn, demand Saudi Arabia lift what they regard as a naval and air blockade on territory they hold.

Iran steered the Tehran meeting away from its nuclear file and towards a long-term regional security architecture — including a non-aggression pact ending its ostracism by Gulf neighbours since the 1979 revolution, and a reduced or ended US presence. Oman's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, a leading advocate, said he believed Washington understood the direction of travel: "We have really discussed this in at length during the talks between Iran and the United States, and I think there is general acceptance that this will be the direction of travel once we have a deal in place at the end of the day." Araghchi struck a similar note: "Whether there is war or not, our policies remain the same."

The diplomacy comes as many Iranians brace for the alternative. Al Jazeera reports that residents of Tehran expect strikes could resume after Israel's election and the US midterms on 3 November, despite a sharp drop in attacks since a June memorandum of understanding. Trump has threatened more strikes on power plants, bridges and other infrastructure; a US naval blockade of Iran's southern ports has been in place since July.

For now, ordinary Iranians are watching two foreign ballots and waiting to learn whether the talks deliver sanctions relief and open water — or whether the skies over their cities fill again.