Riyadh Urges Washington to Prioritize Diplomacy Over Military Action Against Iran

Saudi Arabia has urged the Trump administration to prioritize diplomacy over military action against Iran, warning of severe regional consequences if a strike is launched, according to regional sources.

“Senior Saudi officials have asked senior Trump administration officials for ‘more time’ to explore diplomatic avenues,” one of the sources told The Jerusalem Post.

Riyadh is deeply concerned that a US military strike on Iran could trigger retaliation from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iranian military forces. Such retaliation could target critical Saudi infrastructure, including water and electricity grids, as well as key oil and energy facilities.

Several days ago, senior representatives from the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement—which includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan—traveled to Tehran for high-level meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei.

The delegation, which included Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, sought to establish protective parameters regarding the conflict. Specifically, the Saudis requested that Iran refrain from targeting key Saudi oil and gas facilities should hostilities resume. However, Iranian officials declined to provide such a commitment, according to regional sources.

During the joint Israeli-American military campaigns of Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury in March, Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across Saudi Arabia.

These attacks were eventually de-escalated and halted after Riyadh delivered stark warnings to Tehran, stating that Iran was “crossing a red line” and that Saudi Arabia would be compelled to launch counterstrikes against Iran if the aggression continued.

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