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Gulf States Cancel Iran Talks After Houthi Strikes · GNN Daily Breaking News

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: In a dramatic turn of events, Gulf states have called
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  Speaker 1: off a planned meeting with Iran after Yemen's Houthi rebels
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  Speaker 1: launched yet another attack on Saudi Arabia, underscoring the fragility
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  Speaker 1: of regional diplomacy. The meeting, which was scheduled to explore
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  Speaker 1: avenues for easing tensions, was abruptly cancelled as Saudi officials
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  Speaker 1: confirmed that Houthi forces struck energy facilities in the kingdom's
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  Speaker 1: southern provinces. The attacks, carried out with drones and ballistic missiles,
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  Speaker 1: caused fires at several installations and injured dozens of workers.
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  Speaker 1: Emergency crews rushed to contain the damage, while hospitals reported
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  Speaker 1: treating casualties. Saudi authorities said production was briefly disrupted but
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  Speaker 1: insisted exports would continue. For Gulf leaders, the timing was decisive.
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  Speaker 1: The planned dialogue with Iran was already controversial, with critics
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  Speaker 1: warning that Tehran's support for the Houthis undermined any prospects
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  Speaker 1: for genuine reconciliation. The fresh strikes reinforced those concerns, prompting
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  Speaker 1: officials in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Manama to suspend talks indefinitely.
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  Speaker 1: Analysts say the cancellation reflects a broader strategic calculation. Gulf
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  Speaker 1: states had hoped that engagement with Iran might reduce cross-border
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  Speaker 1: attacks and stabilize shipping lanes in the Red Sea and
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  Speaker 1: Gulf of Aden. But the Houthis' ability to strike deep
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  Speaker 1: inside Saudi territory and Iran's perceived role in enabling them
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  Speaker 1: has hardened positions. International reaction has been swift. The United
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  Speaker 1: States condemned the attacks, pledging continued support for Saudi defenses.
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  Speaker 1: European leaders urged restraint but acknowledged that the collapse of
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  Speaker 1: talks with Iran raises the risk of escalation. The United
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  Speaker 1: Nations called for renewed efforts to revive peace negotiations in Yemen,
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  Speaker 1: warning that civilians remain trapped in the crossfire of regional rivalries.
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  Speaker 1: For Saudi Arabia, the incident is a reminder of the
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  Speaker 1: vulnerability of its energy infrastructure despite advanced defenses. For the Houthis,
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  Speaker 1: it is a demonstration of reach and resilience. And for
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  Speaker 1: the Gulf states collectively, it is a signal that diplomacy
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  Speaker 1: with Iran may be untenable while attacks continue. As fires
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  Speaker 1: are extinguished and wounded workers recover, the confrontation enters a
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  Speaker 1: dangerous new phase, one where diplomacy falters, violence escalates, and
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  Speaker 1: the future of regional stability hangs in the balance.