The first talks were between Iran and Oman, then between Oman and Qatar, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia, and finally, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – all aimed at hammering out what regional co-existence would look like once the war dust settled.
Such dizzying diplomatic activity is just getting started, with more meetings expected, as Gulf nations calibrate a new normal with Iran.
Discussions have covered how traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be managed and what financial incentives the Gulf might provide Iran in exchange for possible security concessions.
It is happening alongside – albeit separately from – ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran to hammer out a longer-term peace deal by a late August deadline.
“US credibility has declined considerably, and that’s been going on now for many years,” said Gonul Tol, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute. The thinking is that “we just have to reach our own understanding with Iran – it wouldn’t be surprising if Gulf countries actually cut their own deal”