Saudi Crown Prince Urged Trump to Continue War Against Iran, New York Times Reports

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged U.S. President Donald Trump in recent contacts to continue the war against Iran, describing the conflict as a "historic opportunity" to remake the Middle East, according to a New York Times report citing sources familiar with the conversations.

The crown prince emphasized that the U.S. and Israeli military campaign could weaken or even lead to the collapse of the Iranian government. He described Iran as a long-term threat to Gulf security that could only be resolved through a change in Tehran's power structure.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also views Iran as a serious threat, though analysts cited in the report note differing perspectives between Tel Aviv and Riyadh on the consequences of an unstable Iran. Israel might see an Iran in internal crisis as less threatening, while Saudi Arabia considers it a direct danger.

Senior Saudi and U.S. officials have expressed concerns about escalation, warning of potential Iranian retaliatory attacks on Saudi oil facilities and the risk of trapping the U.S. in a protracted war. Trump has taken contradictory public positions, at times signaling the war's imminent end and at others its escalation. He recently mentioned "constructive talks" with Iran, which Iranian officials denied.

The report highlights economic fallout, including disruptions to the global oil market from drone and missile attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of Gulf oil exports pass.

Saudi officials stressed support for diplomatic solutions while defending against attacks, accusing Iran of a "dangerous" approach. The crown prince warned that prematurely ending the war could leave the region vulnerable to a bolder Iran. U.S. decision-making circles have discussed broader military options, such as attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure and operations to seize key oil centers, which analysts deem highly risky.