Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urges President Trump to prioritize dialogue over military escalation with Iran
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Trump via telephone to stress the importance of prioritizing dialogue to reduce tensions with Iran. The Saudi leader urged the administration to seek diplomatic solutions and maintain regional stability, fearing that a major US strike on Iran's energy infrastructure could trigger significant retaliation against Gulf oil and gas facilities. This intervention comes as the administration announced a shift in tone, moving from a state of readiness for major strikes to a holding pattern. President Trump stated that he would hold off on new attacks because Iran and other Middle Eastern governments requested a pause. He noted that a deal is being outlined to end the five-month conflict, which includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear threat. While Iranian officials dismissed the pause as a lie, the administration remains in a position of strength. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued that previous strikes have left Iran without its conventional shield, allowing for more effective negotiations. Saudi Arabia continues to influence the conflict, seeking to protect its Vision 2030 economic plan from the repercussions of a wider regional war.