Prince Khalid bin Salman told U.S. officials that Saudi Arabia joined strikes in Iraq to defend itself from Iranian-backed attacks while emphasizing that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman still favors diplomacy over a wider regional war.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to deliver a message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Saudi Arabia is prepared to defend itself against Iranian-backed aggression but wants to prevent the conflict from expanding across the Middle East.
Prince Khalid, a close adviser to the crown prince, met first with Vice President JD Vance before speaking with Trump, according to Axios.
During the meeting with Vance, the Saudi minister reportedly said repeated attacks by Iranian-backed militias against the kingdom’s energy facilities and other infrastructure had crossed a “red line.” He said those attacks compelled Saudi Arabia to participate with U.S. Central Command in strikes against militia targets in Iraq.
Prince Khalid stressed that Saudi participation should not be interpreted as support for an escalation of the broader war with Iran. Riyadh continues to prefer de-escalation and diplomatic negotiations even as it responds militarily to threats against its territory and critical infrastructure.
The joint U.S.-Saudi operation followed more than 30 drone attacks against Saudi targets over a 72-hour period. CENTCOM said the attacks were directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and carried out by affiliated militias.
Saudi officials confirmed that the kingdom coordinated the retaliatory strikes with U.S. forces.
Prince Khalid also reportedly contrasted the Saudi position with that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He told Vance that Netanyahu favors increasing military pressure on Tehran, while Saudi leaders believe negotiations offer a more effective route toward restoring regional stability.
The kingdom is continuing separate talks with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen and believes it can manage that conflict without additional U.S. military involvement, according to the report.
Prince Khalid’s White House visit came one day after Netanyahu met with Trump to discuss regional security issues, including developments involving Saudi Arabia and the continuing confrontation with Iran.
Tensions rose again Wednesday after U.S. officials said Iran launched five ballistic missiles toward American military assets in Jordan. Trump said all five missiles were intercepted and warned that Tehran would face a strong response.
“We’re going to hit them very hard,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
The president said Iran had “already apologized,” but added, “we got to smack them a little bit.”
Iran said the missile attack targeted a U.S. base in Jordan and was conducted in retaliation for what Tehran described as American military aggression.
The renewed exchange of attacks unsettled financial markets. Oil prices rose sharply, while major U.S. stock indexes declined amid growing concern that the five-month conflict could spread further across the region and threaten global energy supplies.
Saudi Arabia is also seeking to organize an international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from escalating Houthi attacks, according to Reuters. The effort reflects Riyadh’s attempt to safeguard maritime trade and oil transportation while avoiding a direct, sustained war with Iran.
The message delivered by Prince Khalid drew a distinction between Saudi Arabia’s willingness to strike Iranian-backed forces when its territory is attacked and its broader goal of containing the conflict. Riyadh’s position leaves it aligned with Washington on immediate defensive operations while remaining opposed to steps that could trigger a larger regional confrontation.
Original article
Comments