The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly urged the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to continue the military campaign against Iran, according to various American sources cited in news reports. The pressure from the Saudi leader came in the context of the escalation of the regional war, which began in late February 2026 with coordinated attacks by the United States and Israel on Iranian military targets
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The conflict intensified after an operation that eliminated senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, triggering retaliation across the Persian Gulf and increasing tension in the region. Faced with this situation, Mohammed bin Salman would have maintained regular communications with Trump, encouraging the US president to sustain and expand military operations, describing the situation as an opportunity to weaken Tehran's regional influence and reinforce Saudi Arabia's
strategic position.
Sources indicated that the Saudi pressure coincided with recommendations from Israel and some advisors within the US government, who considered it necessary to continue the offensives to limit Iran's nuclear and military capacity, as well as to curb Tehran's support for militias in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. Riyadh's stance, while firm in private, was in contrast to its public rhetoric, which emphasized the need for stability and diplomacy in
the Middle East. The crown prince reportedly held telephone conversations with Trump, in which he urged him to continue the war in Iran
U.S. officials noted that Mohammed bin Salman sought to ensure that any pause or withdrawal would not strengthen Iran or weaken the position of Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Cooperation Council allies. Riyadh's intention was for the United States to assume direct military leadership, while the kingdom remained in a more discreet role, avoiding public involvement that could generate internal or international risks
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The conflict and Saudi pressure coincided with a volatile economic and energy scenario. Tensions in the Persian Gulf and attacks on strategic infrastructure raised oil prices and created uncertainty in global markets. Saudi Arabia, as a key producer, sought to strengthen its negotiating position while pushing for a U.S. strategy that would maximize Iran's weakness
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For now, Saudi Arabia maintains a prudent official stance, avoiding declaring direct participation in the fighting, and continues to promote regional diplomacy. However, the crown prince's private support for the American strategy reveals the pressure that Riyadh exerts on Washington's foreign policy at critical moments, reinforcing the perception that the kingdom's interests are closely aligned with the conduct of the conflict in
Iran. Riyadh maintained its intentions for the Trump administration to assume direct military leadership in the conflict.
