The de facto leader of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reportedly pressured President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran.
He argued that the American-Israeli military operation presents a „historic opportunity” to reshape the Middle East, according to individuals briefed by American officials on these conversations, cited by New York Times.
In a series of conversations over the past week, Prince Mohammed reportedly conveyed to Trump that pressure should be exerted for the destruction of the Iranian government.
The Prince allegedly argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf, which can only be eliminated by removing the government in Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also views Iran as a long-term threat. However, analysts suggest that Israeli officials likely see Iran as a failed state, too caught up in internal turmoil to threaten Israel, while Saudi Arabia views it as a serious and direct security threat.
However, senior officials from the Saudi and American governments are concerned that if the conflict prolongs, Iran could launch even harsher attacks on Saudi oil facilities, and the United States could be stuck in an endless war.
Publicly, Trump has oscillated between suggesting that the war could end soon and signaling that it will escalate. On Monday, the American President posted on social media that his administration and Iran had engaged in "productive discussions regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities," although Iran disputed the claim that negotiations were underway.
Enormous consequences of the war
The consequences of the war for the economy and national security of Saudi Arabia are immense. Iranian drone and missile attacks have already caused huge disruptions in the oil market.
Saudi officials have dismissed the idea that Prince Mohammed insisted on prolonging the war.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began," the Saudi government said in a statement, noting that officials "remain in close contact with the Trump administration, and our commitment remains unchanged."
"Our main concern today is to defend against the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure. Iran has chosen a dangerously reckless approach instead of serious diplomatic solutions. This harms all parties involved, but none more than Iran itself," the government added.
Trump has at times seemed open to ending the war, but Prince Mohammed reportedly argued that it would be a mistake, sources familiar with the conversations revealed, and he insisted on attacks against Iran's energy infrastructure to weaken the government in Tehran.
This article, as reported by the New York Times, is based on interviews with individuals who had conversations with American officials and spoke under anonymity protection.
Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, stated that the administration "does not comment on the President's private conversations."
Prince Mohammed, respected by Trump
Prince Mohammed, an authoritative member of the royal family who has led a sustained crackdown on dissent, is respected by Trump and has previously influenced the President's decision-making process.
Prince Mohammed advocated for the United States to consider sending troops into Iran to seize the energy infrastructure and force the Government to step down, according to individuals briefed by American officials.
In recent days, Trump has been seriously considering a military operation to seize the Kharg Island, the center of Iran's oil infrastructure. Such an operation, with airborne army forces or an amphibious attack by marines, would be extremely dangerous.
However, Prince Mohammed reportedly advocated for ground operations in his conversations with Trump, according to the sources cited.
Saudi views on the war are influenced by economic factors as much as political ones. Since the start of the war, Iran's attacks have largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz, hindering the region's energy industry. Most Saudi, Emirati, and Kuwaiti oil must pass through the strait to reach international markets.
Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE have built pipelines to bypass the strait, even these alternative routes have been targeted.
Prince's concern
Analysts familiar with Saudi government thinking say that while Prince Mohammed would likely have preferred to avoid a war, he is concerned that, if Trump withdraws now, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East will be left to face an enraged Iran alone.
In this regard, they say, an unfinished offensive would expose Saudi Arabia to frequent Iranian attacks. Such a scenario could also give Iran the power to periodically close the Strait of Hormuz.
"Saudi officials certainly want the war to end, but how it ends matters," said Yasmine Farouk, director of the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula project at the International Crisis Group.
An attack in 2019, supported by Iran, on Saudi oil facilities - which briefly halved the kingdom's oil production - prompted the Prince to reconsider his antagonistic approach towards the Islamic Republic.
Saudi officials subsequently pursued a diplomatic thaw, restoring relations with Iran in 2023, in part because they realized that their country's alliance with the United States only offered partial protection against Iran, Saudi officials said.
Other countries in the region, including the UAE, have also sought warmer relations with Iran in recent years for similar reasons.
Following Trump's decision to enter the war, against the advice of several Gulf governments, Iran responded by launching thousands of missiles and drones at countries in the region.
"The little trust that existed before has been completely shattered," Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, told reporters last week.
Prince sees war as an opportunity
Saudi Arabia has a large stock of Patriot interceptors that it uses to protect itself from the avalanche of Iranian attacks on its oil fields, refineries, and cities.
However, the interceptors are insufficient on a global scale. Drone and missile attacks have already hit a refinery and the US embassy, while fragments from intercepted projectiles have killed two Bangladeshi migrant workers and injured 12 foreign residents.
Since the start of the war, Netanyahu has insisted on military operations that could force the collapse of the Iranian government. American officials have focused on degrading the country's naval and missile capabilities and have been more skeptical about the possibility of the Iranian government being removed from power.
Although Israeli attacks have killed a large number of leaders, the regime continues to maintain control.
Saudi officials have long expressed concern that Iran as a failed state poses a serious threat to them, analysts say. They fear that even if the Iranian government were to fall, elements of the military - or militias that could emerge in the power vacuum - would continue to target the kingdom and are likely to focus on oil targets.
Some government intelligence analysts have told other officials that Prince Mohammed sees the war as an opportunity for him to increase Saudi Arabia's influence throughout the Middle East and believes that Saudi Arabia can protect itself even if the war continues.
Skepticism about the return of oil markets
In conversations with Prince Mohammed, Trump reportedly expressed concern about the price of oil and the damage it is causing to the economy. The Saudi leader assured him that it is only temporary.
However, American and regional officials are deeply skeptical that oil markets will quickly recover after the war. Saudi Arabia cannot make up for the deficits caused by the war, as its overland pipeline can only transport a fraction of the oil that normally transits through the Strait of Hormuz, economists say.
Although Saudi Arabia is better positioned than other Gulf countries to cope with the closure of the strait, it could face serious ramifications if the waterway is not reopened soon.
Just before the start of the war, Prince Mohammed faced serious financial challenges as he approached the 2030 deadline he set for transforming Saudi Arabia into a global business hub. His government forecasts budget deficits for the next few years as ambitious mega-projects and vast investments in artificial intelligence strain the country's limited resources.
A prolonged war with Iran would put all of this at risk. The prince's success depends on creating a safe environment for investors and tourists.
Asked last week whether the Saudi government prefers an immediate cessation of the war or a longer conflict in which Iran's capabilities would be degraded, Prince Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister, told reporters that the only thing officials are interested in is stopping Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
"We will use all the leverage we have - political, economic, diplomatic, and otherwise - to stop these attacks," Prince Faisal said.