The story: In the shadow of a potential major escalation between Iran and Israel, Bahrain has hosted an Iranian chief diplomat for the first time in 17 years. Meanwhile, in another first—and amid tension over three disputed islands—Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has met his Iranian counterpart. The session notably took place even as Abu Dhabi was not among regional capitals recently toured by Iran’s chief diplomat. Speaking on condition of anonymity, informed Iranian political sources told Amwaj.media that the lack of a visit to the UAE was deliberate and triggered by the territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has been among the observers of a joint Iranian-Omani-Russian naval exercise in the Indian....