Gulf Arab countries are seeking direct diplomacy with Iran after six months of war exposed the limits of relying on U.S. military bases and security guarantees. Iranian missiles and drones, together with attacks by Iran’s allies, have nearly destroyed some American bases, set luxury hotels ablaze and knocked offline an oil pipeline across Saudi Arabia. Officials are now pursuing ways to avoid further attacks, but talks face obstacles: a meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed on Sunday night after Saudi Arabia and Iran reached an impasse over the Strait of Hormuz (key Gulf shipping route). Analysts say the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has exposed Gulf vulnerabilities and emboldened Iran, forcing regional leaders to consider new security options while retaining elements of their existing arrangements.