As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the conflict's doorstep are engaged in frantic diplomacy to halt the war -- but solutions remain elusive. Meanwhile Qatar,

Oman and Qatar were leading efforts to begin ceasefire talks, while mediators said Iran was open to resuming nuclear negotiations if Israel’s attacks stop.

In many ways, it’s conceivable that Israel's Operation Rising Lion will alter the military balance of power in the Middle East more so than the 1991 Persian Gulf War.