US Abandons 'Oil for Security' Model in Middle East but Insists It Is Not Leaving

Doha, Qatar — Senior US envoy Tom Barrack said Washington is moving away from its traditional "security for oil" relationship with the Middle East and is no longer pursuing regional dominance.

Speaking at the Global Security Forum in Doha on Tuesday, Barrack — currently US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria — stressed that America is not abandoning the Middle East but is reassessing its role after years of trying to reshape governments in the region.

"America no longer wants to own things. The deal is not control, it's not leaving. We are not leaving," Barrack said.

The US diplomat acknowledged that countries in the region are increasingly aware of the limits of American engagement. "Everyone is saying: OK, I can't rely on the US to solve all my problems," he said.

Barrack questioned the effectiveness of past interventions, saying the US had been involved in 23 regime changes across the wider Middle East. "Every time we tried to intervene, change people or regimes, it seemed to be a mistake," he said.

His remarks come as Washington and Tehran try to negotiate an end to the US-Israeli war against Iran, a conflict that has destabilized the region and disrupted global energy supplies.

Political analyst Luciano Zaccara described Barrack as perhaps "the most realistic of Trump's allies" when it comes to US engagement in the Middle East. He told Al Jazeera that Barrack had effectively acknowledged that regime change — one of the goals Trump proclaimed in the war with Iran — is unlikely to succeed.

According to Zaccara, Barrack stopped just short of suggesting that Trump needs to retreat from the "maximum demands" he has set for Iran.

US-Iran talks continue

Qatar said talks between Tehran and Washington are still ongoing despite growing fears of renewed fighting. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari, speaking separately at the forum, said mediators continue to exchange messages between the warring parties, with regional partners involved in efforts to reach a deal.

"We are working between the parties, continuing mediation work with partners and other parties in the region," he said. Al-Ansari argued that the lack of public information about the negotiations should not be read as a lack of progress. "The fact that we don't hear about it is a good sign that we are doing our job properly," he said.

The diplomatic efforts come as Iran's seven-day proposal to end the war remains under review, with the US yet to respond. The plan envisions reopening the Strait of Hormuz and resuming nuclear talks in exchange for US concessions, including lifting the naval blockade on Iranian ports and easing economic sanctions on Tehran.

Analyst Negar Mortazavi said the diplomatic door remains open, but negotiations are deadlocked over the terms and sequencing of a deal. "Tehran wants to end the war, but they are not ready to surrender under military or economic pressure," she told Al Jazeera on the sidelines of the Doha forum.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major flashpoint, with attacks on commercial vessels raising fears about global energy supplies. Before the US-Israeli war against Iran, one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies passed through the strait.

Mortazavi argued that escalation is part of Tehran's strategy to maintain leverage against Washington despite its military disadvantages. "Iran's leverage has declined but it has not disappeared," she said. "Moving tankers is not the same as restoring safe, predictable and normal maritime traffic."

According to Mortazavi, Tehran wants to raise the economic and political cost of the war for Trump while sending a signal to future US administrations that military action against Iran will carry consequences. However, she warned that continued escalation poses serious risks for Iran and the wider region. "Ultimately, neither military escalation nor economic pressure is likely to bring Iran to its knees," she said.

Fighting in Yemen

The Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson also reaffirmed Doha's support for Riyadh in the fighting against Houthi forces in Yemen, saying Qatar backs Saudi Arabia in "defending its sovereignty against this attack."

Fighting escalated in September after the Houthis seized areas along Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the port city of Mocha. In response, forces loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government launched a campaign called "Yemen Dawn" on October 4, backed by Saudi-led airstrikes.

The Houthis have retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports, oil facilities and military bases. Attacks on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport earlier this month killed at least 14 people and wounded hundreds.