Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Donald Trump to de-escalate tensions and reconsider plans for a large-scale attack on Iran, according to a report. The appeal comes amid rising concerns over potential military actions and their regional implications.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has urged President Donald Trump to de-escalate tensions and reconsider plans for a large-scale attack on Iran, according to a report published Sunday morning. The appeal is the latest in a rapid sequence of Saudi diplomatic interventions throughout the night, as the kingdom intensifies its efforts to prevent a direct US-Iran confrontation.
The thread of reports, all published in the early hours of Sunday, shows a coordinated Saudi push. At 02:11 Jerusalem, Axios reported that MBS urged Trump to cancel large-scale strikes. Shortly after, N12 reported that MBS expressed concern and asked for a 'plan of action,' later clarifying that he was not seeking to halt the strike but to understand if the kingdom needed to prepare for potential retaliation. Ynet reported MBS urging Trump to avoid a wide-scale strike, and security analyst Yair Goldblatt reported that the crown prince asked for an 'action plan.' i24NEWS reported that MBS sought to 'calm the situation' during a call. CNN then reported a heavy pressure call, and later that Trump had canceled a planned strike, with MBS making heavy pressure calls to secure the cancellation. A CBS report indicated MBS had expressed concern over US target selection. The new report, citing unnamed sources, adds to this picture of sustained Saudi pressure.
The Saudi concern reflects the kingdom's vulnerability to Iranian retaliation, particularly its energy infrastructure. As The Zioneer has reported, Saudi Arabia has previously conveyed its strategic risks to US officials, with the Saudi Foreign Minister urging Washington to avoid a large-scale military campaign. The crown prince's interventions align with a broader Saudi diplomatic effort to de-escalate, which has included direct calls with Trump in recent weeks.
The report did not specify Trump's response to the latest appeal. It remains unclear whether the US will proceed with a scaled-back operation or pursue a diplomatic track, and the exact scope of the planned strike and the status of US-Iran negotiations remain unverified.
10 developments
- DevelopingSaudi Foreign Minister Reportedly Urges US to Avoid War with Iran, Shift Focus from Israel
- StrongSaudi Defense Minister to VP Vance: MBS seeks de-escalation with Iran, contrary to Netanyahu
- StrongSaudi report: bin Salman spoke with Trump on Iran negotiations
- DevelopingTrump says US military on alert, urges Iran to return to negotiations after missile barrage
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