### Iran Scrambles for Regional Support Amid Rising Tensions with Israel

Iran is scrambling to rally support from Middle Eastern nations as it seeks to mitigate Israel's potential response to a recent missile attack, sources familiar with the diplomatic efforts told CNN. Tehran's primary concern is whether the United States can dissuade Israel from targeting Iran's nuclear sites and oil facilities. This anxiety is heightened by the weakening of Hezbollah, its primary proxy militia in the region, due to recent Israeli military actions.

The U.S. has been actively consulting with Israel on its response to the missile attack from Iran, urging Israel to avoid targeting nuclear and oil infrastructure. President Joe Biden emphasized the need for a "proportional" retaliation during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, their first in nearly two months.

U.S. Gulf allies, notably the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar, have voiced concerns about a potential attack on Iranian oil facilities, underscoring the economic and environmental repercussions for the region, an Arab diplomat revealed to CNN. The Biden administration is particularly worried that ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran could escalate into a broader regional conflict, potentially involving the United States.

There is also growing apprehension over the perceived decline in U.S. influence over Israeli decision-making. Israel has largely ignored U.S. calls for restraint, particularly in its operations in Lebanon, which have resulted in over 1,400 deaths since late last month. Israel also conducted significant military actions, such as detonating communications equipment used by Hezbollah and assassinating Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, without consulting the U.S. These actions disrupted a delicate ceasefire proposal facilitated by the U.S. and France.

The Israeli security cabinet has not yet made a definitive decision regarding its next steps, according to an Israeli official who spoke to CNN. Although the gap between U.S. and Israeli positions is narrowing, skepticism remains about the transparency of Israel's plans. As of last week, Israel had not provided assurances that it would refrain from targeting Iran's nuclear sites.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is the primary instigator of the conflict, aiming to ignite a regional war to maintain his hold on power. Despite this, the U.S. has been urging Tehran to respond cautiously if Israel retaliates, utilizing backchannel communications to stress the importance of a measured reaction.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have reportedly assured both the U.S. and Iran that they will not permit Israeli aircraft to use their airspace to conduct strikes on Iran. Jordan has similarly pledged to defend its airspace from any unauthorized breaches.

Iran remains particularly keen on securing Saudi Arabia's support to prevent an Israeli attack and leverage its relationship with Washington to seek a diplomatic resolution. High-level meetings between officials from Iran and Saudi Arabia have been frequent, with Araghchi visiting Saudi Arabia to discuss regional developments and condemn Israeli actions in Lebanon and Gaza.

As the world watches closely, Israel's actions in the coming days will be pivotal. However, with Yom Kippur approaching, Israeli activities are expected to slow down, providing a brief respite in the escalating tensions.