Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, urged Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, calling it a “historic opportunity” to reshape the Middle East, The New York Times reported, citing people briefed on the discussions.
In recent talks, the Saudi leader said Washington should seek to dismantle Iran’s hardline government, the report said.
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A “historic opportunity” to reshape the region
Prince Mohammed reportedly argued that Iran posed a long-term threat to the Gulf states and that only a change in leadership in Tehran could eliminate that risk.
He also pushed for targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure and even raised the idea of deploying ground forces in some discussions, the report said, citing sources familiar with the US briefings.
Saudi Arabia fears that a collapsed Iranian state could create more instability and pose a direct security threat to the kingdom, the NYT reported.
US and Saudi officials fear prolonged war
Despite the push for continued pressure, officials in both Washington and Riyadh are concerned about the risks of a prolonged conflict.
According to the news outlet, there are fears that Iran could intensify attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, which could draw the United States into a prolonged military confrontation.
Saudi Arabia denies escalating pressure
Saudi officials rejected claims that the crown prince was advocating a prolonged war.
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful solution to this conflict, even before it started,” the Saudi government said in a statement quoted by the newspaper.
“Our main concern today is to defend against the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure,” it added.
Economic and energy shares
The war has severely disrupted oil markets, particularly due to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.
Iranian drone and missile attacks have targeted oil facilities, increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia’s economy and its broader Vision 2030 ambitions.
