Saudi Crown Prince Urges Trump to Prioritize Dialogue, Avoid Iran Conflict

Saudi Arabia is seeking to avoid direct involvement in a potential U.S. conflict with Iran, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urging President Donald Trump to pursue dialogue over further military escalation. The Crown Prince stressed the importance of maintaining security and stability in the Gulf region and preventing broader conflicts during a phone call with Trump on Sunday. This conversation took place just hours before Trump announced he was halting planned strikes against Iran. Saudi Arabia's stance signals a desire to de-escalate tensions, despite recent actions against Houthi groups in Yemen, who are seen as Iranian proxies. The Saudi statement, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), highlighted the need for all efforts to achieve calm. Trump, meanwhile, announced on his Truth Social platform that he was canceling the strikes, citing a potential deal to end a five-month war. This marked a dramatic shift from his previous day's stance, where he indicated the U.S. was ready for combat. Trump stated the U.S. was holding back at the request of Iran and other Middle Eastern governments, suggesting that an agreement had been reached. He outlined this deal would involve reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran's nuclear threat, with Israel joining the U.S. commitment.

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MBS also highlighted the need to maintain the security and stability of the Gulf and prevent wider conflicts that would affect regional and international security and stability.