Analysis: Gulf states could join a maritime peace mission — former U.S. official Hood: “They need to do something different” in dealing with Trump

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders could have influence over U.S. President Donald Trump when they meet him on Tuesday at the UN General Assembly in New York — but only if they go with a plan different from the same old discourse, says Joey Hood, former director of the U.S. office for Iran affairs.

“I don’t think it will be enough for them to say they’re going to keep doing the same thing they’ve always done and try to talk their way out of this, while Iran keeps bombing Omani waters, Qatari territory and Saudi pipelines,” Hood told Al Jazeera.

He suggested that the Mecca agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan could be combined with the already formed naval coalition. “Maybe tell Iran that you will place it in the Persian Gulf and in the northern Arabian Sea to monitor traffic, to make sure that nothing threatening passes through… this would not be a military action, this would be a peaceful monitoring mission,” he added.

The proposal comes at a moment when the U.S.–Iran war has entered its seventh month and diplomacy to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, while Trump says he is weighing a “big decision” on Iran.

Source: Al Jazeera