A Saudi intelligence source has confirmed that the kingdom has urged the United States to ramp up its attacks on Iran, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly viewing the US-Israeli military campaign as a ‘historic opportunity’ to reshape the Middle East.
The source corroborated reporting from the New York Times, which stated that Prince Mohammed has called on President Donald Trump not to cut short the war against Iran. Mr Trump appeared to back the report, telling journalists on Tuesday: “Yeah, he’s a warrior. He’s fighting with us.”
There have been no reports of active Saudi military involvement in the nearly four-week-old conflict, but a Saudi political analyst suggested the kingdom would likely join if peace efforts led by Pakistan fail. “What matters now is Iran’s decision,” said Mohammed Alhamed. “If Iran engages seriously, there is still a path to contain escalation. If it rejects the conditions and continues its attacks, the threshold for Saudi action will be crossed.”
Saudi Arabia has itself come under attack from Iranian drones, including a strike on an oil refinery in Yanbu on its Red Sea coast a week ago. The attack signalled an Iranian warning that it could threaten the kingdom’s alternative oil export route via the Red Sea, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
The potential involvement of Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen, who possess their own missile arsenal, could further multiply the threat. Saudi defence expert Hesham Alghannam said Riyadh currently maintains “cautious neutrality” but could shift to limited retaliation or defensive coalition support if Houthis strike Saudi assets.
