Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, the brother and closest ally of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, sent a clear message in a closed-door meeting in Washington, declaring that if American threats against Iran are not implemented, the Tehran regime will be strengthened.
According to Axios, which cited sources involved in the meeting, the Saudi official said that if Donald Trump does not take military action after weeks of threats, the result will be the strengthening of the Iranian government.
This stance marks a marked shift from the cautious public position that Riyadh has maintained so far, warning of the dangers of escalation and expressing a preference for a diplomatic solution.
Just three weeks ago, the heir to the throne had expressed strong concern to the US president about the risk of a general conflict in the region, an intervention that, according to American sources, helped Trump delay a possible attack.
Prince Khalid bin Salman was in Washington at a time of heightened tension, as the US has beefed up its military presence in the Persian Gulf and Tehran has warned that any US attack would trigger an “unprecedented response.” White House officials insist the president has not made a final decision and continues to keep the option of diplomacy open.
However, according to Axios, there are no direct negotiations between Washington and Tehran. US officials believe that Iran is not ready to accept a deal under the very strict US conditions. A Gulf official stressed: “Iran always wants a deal, but the question is what kind of deal it wants and what kind of deal the United States accepts – and right now those are not compatible.”
While in Washington, the Saudi defense minister held a lengthy meeting at the White House with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House special representative Steve Whitkoff, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Cain. The focus of the meeting was the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran.
Publicly, Saudi Arabia continues to maintain a low tone. The heir to the throne assured the Iranian president in a phone call that the Kingdom would not allow its airspace to be used for an attack on Tehran, and an official statement stressed respect for Iranian sovereignty and support for a diplomatic solution.
However, in a closed-door meeting lasting about an hour with Middle East experts and representatives of Jewish organizations, Prince Khalid appeared less reserved.
According to those present, he assessed that after weeks of threats, the US president is unlikely to avoid military action, although he will have to limit the risk of a regional escalation. “At this point, if it doesn’t happen, it will only embolden the regime,” he reportedly said.
The sources said that this stance is consistent with what the prince conveyed to the White House, although he acknowledged that he left the meetings without a clear view of the US administration's strategy and ultimate goals towards Iran.
A Gulf official described the situation in the region as "trapped" between the risk of a negative escalation in the event of a US attack and the possibility of Iran "emerging more powerful" if no action is taken.
