First Report: Saudi Crown Prince Expressed Concern to Trump About the Strike

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Trump on Saturday and expressed concern about his plan for a large-scale attack on Iran, according to senior American officials. Trump is considering strikes on energy targets in Iran but has not yet given a final order. The Saudis requested clarifications and urged restraint. The White House and the Saudi embassy declined to comment. On Wednesday, Trump met with the Saudi defense minister. Other regional countries are calling for calm, and the Iranian foreign minister threatened a resolute response. Qatari mediators are trying to reach an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with President Trump on Saturday and expressed concern about his plan to launch a large-scale attack on Iran, according to two senior American officials and another source familiar with the conversation. President Trump is seriously considering ordering strikes on energy targets in Iran in the coming days, but has not yet given a final order. An American attack could lead to unprecedented escalation and expansion of the regional conflict, and Iran has threatened to respond forcefully against energy facilities and infrastructure in Israel and Gulf states. A senior American official said the Saudis requested clarifications about the action plan, and another source said bin Salman urged the president to calm the situation and avoid launching an attack. The White House and the Saudi embassy in Washington declined to comment. On Wednesday, Trump met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who also met with Vice President Vance and told him that Saudi Arabia supports de-escalation with Iran, despite the joint US-Saudi strike this week against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Saudi Arabia is a key US ally, and despite tensions, has influenced Trump's policy toward Iran several times. Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan are also urging restraint. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi spoke with Pakistan's army chief and the foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia, warning that any hostile action will be met with a resolute response. Qatari mediators held talks with Araghchi, Witkoff, and Omani officials in an attempt to reach an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and progress was made, but it is unclear if it is sufficient.