Saudi Crown Prince MBS urges Trump to ‘prioritise dialogue’ in US-Iran war
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged US President Donald Trump to prioritize diplomatic dialogue over military escalation in the US-Iran conflict, emphasizing the need to preserve Gulf security and stability. Trump subsequently announced he would halt planned strikes against Iran, citing an outline of a deal to end the five-month war, though Iranian officials dismissed claims that Tehran had requested the pause.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince engaged in direct communication with US President Donald Trump regarding the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, according to the Saudi Press Agency. During their phone conversation, the crown prince stressed the importance of pursuing diplomatic channels rather than further military action, while underscoring the critical need to maintain security and stability across the Gulf region. He warned that a broader regional conflict could have far-reaching consequences for both regional and international security.
Shortly after this intervention, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that he would postpone planned military strikes against Iran. He attributed this decision to requests from Iran and other Middle Eastern governments to exercise restraint, and stated that the basic framework of a potential agreement had been established. According to Trump's statement, such an arrangement would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear capabilities, with Israel's participation in the commitment.
The timing of the Saudi crown prince's call reflected concerns about potential Iranian retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure, particularly oil and gas facilities. Saudi Arabia itself has recently experienced direct attacks, including drone strikes targeting eastern oil installations and the capital, while Houthi forces aligned with Iran have separately targeted Saudi crude infrastructure and threatened maritime blockades in the Red Sea.
Iranian state media and military officials rejected Trump's characterization of events, dismissing claims that Tehran had sought a pause in hostilities and reaffirming that Iranian forces remained prepared for conflict. The broader conflict, which began in late February with US and Israeli strikes targeting Iran's military capabilities, has been marked by repeated cycles of escalation and de-escalation, including a ceasefire attempt in June that collapsed within weeks over disputes regarding shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
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