Saudi Crown Prince tells Trump to de-escalate amid US Iran strike plans, report says

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly called President Trump on Saturday and implored him to hold off on striking the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) reportedly urged US President Donald Trump not to launch further military strikes against Iran, as fears mounted over a broader regional conflict that could threaten Gulf security and global energy supplies.According to Axios, MBS conveyed his concerns during a phone call with Trump on Saturday, warning against large-scale attacks, particularly those targeting Iran's energy infrastructure. The conversation came amid heightened tensions following the latest round of US-Israeli strikes on Tehran and growing fears of Iranian retaliation.Saudi Arabia Seeks De-Escalation Amid Rising TensionsSources familiar with the discussions told Axios that Saudi Arabia sought clarity on Washington's military plans and urged restraint instead of further escalation.One US official told the publication that the Saudis expressed concern over the proposed military action and requested details of the plan. Another source said MBS specifically appealed to Trump to refrain from launching additional strikes.According to reports, Riyadh fears that any major attack on Iran could trigger retaliatory strikes on energy infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, potentially dragging the Gulf into a wider regional conflict.Riyadh Calls For Dialogue, Diplomatic SolutionSaudi state media later confirmed that the two leaders spoke over the phone but did not mention any request regarding military action.According to the official readout, MBS stressed the importance of prioritising dialogue, pursuing diplomatic solutions and working towards a truce to reduce tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional crisis that could threaten both regional and international security.Trump Puts Planned Attack On HoldThe reported appeal came as Trump weighed military options after Iran's alleged missile strike on a US military base in Jordan and disruptions to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Hours after the phone call, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was putting the planned strikes on hold after receiving requests from Iran and several Middle Eastern countries. He said discussions had produced an understanding on parameters for a possible agreement that would include the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and measures to address concerns over Iran's nuclear programme.Regional Push To Prevent A Wider WarThe reported conversation followed recent meetings between Trump and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, the Crown Prince's brother, who is also said to have conveyed Riyadh's preference for de-escalation.According to reports, several other regional countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Pakistan also urged Washington to avoid further military escalation, fearing that the conflict could spread across the Middle East.President Donald Trump Confirms Fresh US-Iran Talks Begin Today, Pauses Planned Military Strike As Strait Of Hormuz & Nuclear Deal Take Centre Stage Neither the White House nor the Saudi Embassy immediately commented on the Axios report. The renewed conflict has also raised concerns over Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 programme, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's flagship economic diversification initiative.Analysts believe that prolonged regional instability or attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure could undermine investor confidence and complicate the kingdom's efforts to transform its economy beyond oil.

The Saudi leader reportedly warned that reaching an agreement was essential to prevent the region “from being drawn into a wider conflict whose repercussions would affect regional and international security and stability.”

WASHINGTON (AP): Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader, in a phone call with President Donald Trump on Saturday raised concerns about the U.S. potentially escalating the conflict with Iran, according to a person familiar with the leaders’ discussion.The discussion, which was first reported on by the news outlet Axios, comes as Trump weighs whether to carry out new strikes on Iran.The Saudis, according to the person briefed on the substance of the call but not authorized to comment publicly, are concerned that if the U.S. targets Iran’s energy infrastructure or carries out massive strikes on other key infrastructure that Tehran could respond by carrying out attacks on the kingdom’s and other Gulf countries’ energy infrastructure.The crown prince during Saturday’s call sought clarity from Trump on what potential new action he’s weighing to take against Iran, the person said.A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and requested anonymity, confirmed the leaders spoke on Saturday but did not offer any detail about the substance of their conversation.Saudi Arabia earlier this week joined the U.S. in striking multiple logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, but has been urging the U.S. and Iran to get back to the negotiating table to find an endgame to the five-month old conflict.The crown prince also dispatched his brother, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, to Washington earlier this week for separate meetings with Trump and Vice President JD Vance to discuss Iran strategy.The stakes for continued U.S. military action are high for Trump and his party as the conflict, unpopular among many Americans, has jolted the world economy just months before critical midterm elections in November.The president has vowed to take retaliatory action after the U.S. military thwarted a surprise attack earlier this week by Iran on a U.S. base in Jordan.Trump had told reporters on Friday that “we just want to win” in Iran and said the U.S. will hit Iran “very hard” until they can’t take it anymore. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed frustration that Tehran had last month signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. on a truce but then quickly “broke it, shot at commercial ships, and killed American soldiers.”On Saturday, the U.S. State Department issued new security alerts for Americans in 10 countries in the region to exercise heightened caution due to the escalating tensions with Iran.The warnings — covering Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates — urged U.S. citizens to prepare for the possibility of flight cancellations, temporary airspace closures and other travel disruptions.

Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman reportedly voiced concern over US President Donald Trump’s reported plan to intensify military strikes on Iran during a phone conversation on Saturday. According to Axios, citing a US official, the crown prince “expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action.” The report also quoted another source familiar […] Saudi crown prince raises concern over Trump’s Iran strike plan

Report: Saudi crown prince urged Trump to refrain from strikes Saudi Arabia expressed concern over US President Donald Trump's plans for massive strikes against Iran and sought clarity on the proposed course of action, US outlet Axios reported. Citing US officials, Axios said Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump on Saturday and urged him to de-escalate tensions and refrain from launching the strikes. On Sunday, Trump said he had cancelled the strikes, contingent on a deal involving the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's commitment to denuclearisation.