Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked US President Donald Trump to refrain from carrying out large-scale strikes on Iran amid the possibility that Washington could target the country's energy infrastructure, Axios reported. During their conversation, bin Salman reportedly expressed concern about the potential consequences and urged Trump to work to ease tensions.
According to two US officials and another source familiar with the conversation, Trump was seriously considering strikes on Iranian energy targets in the coming days in response to Iran's missile attack on a US base in Jordan and its continued disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the report said the US president had not yet issued a final order to proceed.
"The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarification regarding the planned course of action," a US official told Axios. Another source familiar with the call said bin Salman had urged Trump to de-escalate the situation and refrain from launching the strikes. The White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
Saudi pressure and Iranian threats
Bin Salman's appeal came after Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman delivered a similar message in Washington. According to the report, he told US Vice President JD Vance during a meeting that Riyadh wanted tensions with Iran reduced and sought to prevent further escalation.
Iran, meanwhile, intensified its threats. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any hostile action by the US or Israel, or participation by countries in the region, would be met with a "decisive and proportionate response." Nournews, a media outlet affiliated with the Iranian regime, also reported that a US strike on Iran's energy infrastructure could prompt attacks on oil fields in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as gas fields in Qatar and Israel.
Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Pakistan have also been engaging with Washington and Tehran in an effort to prevent further deterioration. According to Axios, Qatari mediators held talks with Araghchi, White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Omani officials in an attempt to secure an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
A source familiar with the contacts said progress had been made, although it remained unclear whether it would be enough to defuse the crisis.
