Washington, March 2, 2026 — In a striking contrast between public statements and private diplomacy, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made multiple confidential phone calls to President Donald Trump over the past month strongly advocating for U.S. military action against Iran, according to a report by The Washington Post citing four people familiar with the matter.
The lobbying effort by the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, one of Washington’s key Gulf allies, played a significant role alongside sustained pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in convincing Trump to authorize sweeping U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets late on February 28, 2026. Those strikes, which U.S. and Israeli officials described as targeting military installations, nuclear-related sites, and government facilities, resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, aged 86, along with several senior Iranian officials.
Publicly, Riyadh Projected Restraint
Just weeks earlier, in January 2026, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had publicly positioned Saudi Arabia as a voice for de-escalation. He explicitly stated that the Kingdom would not permit its airspace or territory to be used for any attack on Iran, emphasizing respect for Iranian sovereignty and urging Washington and Tehran to resolve their differences through dialogue amid stalled nuclear negotiations.
This public stance aligned with broader Gulf Arab concerns about regional stability and the risk of wider conflict. Saudi officials had repeatedly cautioned against escalation, even as tensions mounted over Iran’s alleged resumption of nuclear activities and its support for proxy militias across the region.
Private Calls Told a Different Story
According to the Washington Post, however, behind the scenes the Crown Prince was far more hawkish. Over several private conversations with Trump in February, MBS — as he is widely known — argued forcefully that the moment had come for decisive U.S. action to neutralize the Iranian threat. The calls were described as direct and persistent, focusing on the need to prevent Iran from further destabilizing the Gulf and the broader Middle East.
The report notes that Trump’s decision to proceed with the strikes came despite U.S. intelligence assessments concluding that Iran posed no imminent direct threat to the American homeland within the next decade. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, long a vocal proponent of military pressure on Tehran, had been lobbying Trump for months.
President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in earlier diplomatic engagements. Their close relationship has been a cornerstone of U.S.-Saudi ties during Trump’s second term.
The Strikes and Immediate Aftermath
The joint U.S.-Israeli operation, launched in the early hours of February 28 (U.S. time), involved waves of airstrikes and precision munitions. Iranian state media and officials confirmed that Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed when his compound in central Tehran was struck. Reports also indicated the deaths of up to 40 senior military and security figures.
Iran responded swiftly with retaliatory missile and drone barrages targeting U.S. military bases across the region, as well as sites in Israel and several Gulf states — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Explosions were reported in Riyadh and other locations, though Saudi air defenses intercepted many incoming projectiles. Iranian officials claimed the strikes hit civilian areas, including a school near a military base, resulting in significant casualties.
President Trump, in statements on March 1, described the operation as “ahead of schedule” and vowed that combat operations would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.” He confirmed that three U.S. service members had been killed in the hostilities and pledged to “avenge” their deaths. Trump also publicly urged Iranians to rise up against the Islamic Republic, signaling a policy shift toward regime-change objectives.
Trump Reaffirms Support for Saudi Arabia
On March 1, Trump spoke by phone with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the U.S. president condemned Iranian “blatant missile attacks” on the Kingdom, affirmed that Washington “stands alongside the Kingdom,” and expressed full support for any measures Saudi Arabia takes to defend itself.
This call came amid reports that Iranian retaliation had directly targeted Saudi territory, testing the resilience of the long-standing U.S.-Saudi security partnership.
Regional and International Reactions
The developments have sent shockwaves across the Middle East and beyond. Oil prices surged more than 13% in early trading on March 2 amid fears of disrupted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. European leaders expressed alarm at the rapid escalation, while Russia and China condemned the strikes as a dangerous violation of international norms.
Within Iran, state media declared 40 days of mourning and a seven-day national holiday. Senior officials have vowed revenge, describing the killing of Khamenei as crossing a “very dangerous red line.”
Broader Context of U.S.-Saudi-Iran Dynamics
The revelation of MBS’s private advocacy underscores the complex, often contradictory nature of Gulf diplomacy. Saudi Arabia has long viewed Iran as its primary regional rival, particularly over influence in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. The Crown Prince’s public restraint may have been intended to shield Riyadh from direct involvement or Iranian retaliation, while his private entreaties sought to leverage American power to decisively weaken Tehran.
Analysts note that the episode fits a pattern seen during Trump’s first term, when close personal rapport between the president and MBS facilitated bold policy moves, including the 2017 Qatar crisis and the 2018 Khashoggi affair fallout.
As the conflict enters its second day with further strikes reported in Tehran, the full strategic calculus behind the Crown Prince’s dual-track approach — and its long-term impact on Gulf security — remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that private Saudi pressure helped tip the balance toward one of the most consequential U.S. military interventions in the Middle East in decades.
For More News Updates Follow Us On www.tconews.in
