Crown Prince Urges Trump to Intensify Iran War

According to people who have been briefed by American officials, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently urged President Trump not to slow down the ongoing military campaign against Iran. In conversations with the president, the Saudi leader reportedly described the conflict as an unusual opportunity to significantly weaken Iran’s ruling establishment or potentially bring down the hardline government in Tehran, which he believes could reshape the balance of power across the Middle East.

Sources say the crown prince has suggested expanding the scope of operations to include strikes on Iran’s energy facilities. He has also reportedly raised the idea of deploying American forces to secure major oil infrastructure, including the strategic export hub at Kharg Island. Military planners are said to view such proposals as extremely dangerous due to the potential for escalation and the risks involved in seizing and holding those sites.

President Trump has taken a mixed public approach to the conflict. At times he has signaled that diplomacy could offer a way to de-escalate tensions, while at other moments he has indicated the possibility of intensifying military pressure on Iran. The White House has not commented on the content of his private discussions with the Saudi crown prince.

Saudi officials, however, deny that Mohammed bin Salman is encouraging the United States to prolong the war. They maintain that the kingdom supports reaching a negotiated settlement and say their immediate concern is protecting Saudi territory from frequent Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting cities and oil installations.

Observers note that Saudi Arabia faces a complicated strategic dilemma. Riyadh worries about both a stronger Iran and the instability that could follow if the Iranian government collapses. At the same time, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have rattled global oil markets and threaten the crown prince’s Vision 2030 plan to diversify the Saudi economy.

During his discussions with President Trump, the crown prince reportedly also tried to reassure him that the spike in oil prices tied to the regional conflict would likely be temporary. Reports indicate that several other Gulf states, which were initially cautious about a wider war, are now also leaning toward continuing the fight, largely for similar strategic reasons as Saudi Arabia.