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Saudi Arabia could help end the Iran war, but will the US listen?
The Bloomberg Opinion column analyzes Saudi Arabia’s difficult position in the Iran-related war, highlighting its energy security concerns, hedges with Iran and China, and its cautious approach to a mediated peace. It argues that without listening to Gulf states, any settlement risks being weak or unstable and geopolitically costly for U.S. allies.
Why It Matters
The piece underscores how Gulf diplomacy and great-power dynamics shape efforts to end the Iran war, warning that ignoring Saudi input could lead to a fragile regional settlement with long-term security and economic consequences.
Timeline
7 Events
April 28, 2026: Saudi hedges via Tehran thaw and ties with China
April 28, 2026
Before the war, Riyadh pursued hedges against over-dependence on the U.S., including attempts at a thaw with Tehran and closer ties to China; the article notes limits to what these moves could realistically achieve.
April 28, 2026: Yanbu as transshipment terminal for 1,200 km pipeline
April 28, 2026
The piece notes that Yanbu is now the transshipment terminal for a 1,200-kilometer pipeline Saudis are using to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, allowing up to 7 million barrels per day in exports even if Hormuz is blocked.
April 28, 2026: Bloomberg Opinion column published
April 28, 2026
The Bloomberg Opinion column by Marc Champion, titled 'Saudi Arabia could help end the Iran war, but will the US listen?', discusses Riyadh’s dilemma and argues the U.S. should listen to Gulf allies to avoid a weak or unstable peace.
January 2026: Davos appearance with Carney pitching middle-power coalition
January 2026
At Davos in January 2026, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney proposed that middle powers join together to counter aggressive military juggernauts, a theory the article says is being tested in the Persian Gulf.
October 7, 2023: Hamas attack affects Gulf calculations and Israeli expansionism
October 7, 2023
The article references Hamas’s October 7 terrorist assault, which it says was followed by Israeli expansionism that influenced Gulf leaders’ calculations during the conflict.
2022: Houthis and Riyadh sign a ceasefire that could be ended by escalation over Iran
2022
The Houthis and Saudi Arabia had a ceasefire agreement in 2022; the Houthis could end it if the United States escalates against Iran, as noted in the piece.
2008: King Abdullah advocates action against Iran using the 'cut off the head of the snake' phrase
2008
The article recalls King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz courting U.S. action against Iran’s nuclear program in 2008, describing it with the phrase 'cut off the head of the snake.'