Saudi Crown Prince Urges Trump to Avoid Massive Attack on Iran Amid Rising Tensions

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed concern to U.S. President Donald Trump about plans for a large-scale military strike against Iran during a conversation on Saturday, according to two senior American officials and a source familiar with the details. The Crown Prince sought clarity on the U.S. operational plans and urged Trump to de-escalate the situation and avoid initiating an attack.

President Trump is reportedly considering ordering strikes on Iranian energy targets in the coming days but has not yet given final authorization. Such an attack risks triggering unprecedented escalation and broadening the regional conflict. Iran has threatened retaliatory strikes against energy and infrastructure facilities in Israel and Gulf states.

The Saudi Crown Prince’s concerns were conveyed amid heightened regional tensions, including a recent joint U.S.-Saudi strike against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. On Wednesday, Trump met with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, who relayed a message from Mohammed bin Salman emphasizing Saudi support for calming tensions with Iran despite ongoing hostilities.

Other regional countries, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Pakistan, are also urging both the U.S. and Iran to reduce tensions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Pakistan’s Army Chief and foreign ministers of Turkey and Saudi Arabia to discuss the possibility of U.S. strikes. Araghchi warned that any hostile action by the U.S., Israel, or regional partners would be met with a decisive and proportionate response from Iran’s powerful armed forces.

Qatari mediators have engaged separately with Iranian officials, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and Omani leaders to negotiate reopening the Strait of Hormuz. While progress has been reported, it remains uncertain if these efforts will be sufficient to ease the crisis. Both the White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the discussions.