MIDEAST STOCKS-Gulf stocks mixed ahead of potential US-Iran UN talks

By Ateeq Shariff

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Gulf stock markets closed mixed on Tuesday as cautious investors awaited potential US-Iran developments at the United Nations General Assembly.

Market sentiment remained fragile following renewed threats exchanged between Washington and Tehran, prolonging a months-long stalemate that continues to pressure global energy dynamics and heighten regional tensions.

Compounding these geopolitical risks, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis advanced near the strategic Red Sea coast amid persistent cross-border friction with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's benchmark index .TASI finished flat, with Al Rajhi Bank 1120.SE losing 2.4%.

Saudi civil defence lifted a security alert in the Najran region on Tuesday, confirming the threat had cleared amid ongoing hostilities with Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.

Oil behemoth Saudi Aramco 2222.SE is offering prompt oil cargoes through negotiations for lifting from locations outside the Strait of Hormuz, two trade sources said.

Aramco shares were down 0.2%.

The Qatari benchmark .QSI declined 0.5%, following a 2.6% fall in The Commercial Bank COMB.QA.

Dubai's main gauge .DFMGI gained 0.6%, helped by a 1.2% rise in top lender Emirates NBD ENBD.DU.

The Abu Dhabi index .FTFADGI advanced 1.3%, a day after falling 1.6%.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US eases military pressure and lifts its port blockade.

The conditional offer comes shortly after Iran's military warned on Sunday of unrestricted retaliation if the US, backed by regional allies, restarts military operations against the country.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt's blue-chip index .EGX30 eased 0.1%.