Senator Lindsey Graham has warned Saudi Arabia of 'consequences' if it does not join US military operations against Iran, questioning whether Washington should honour a long-sought defence agreement with the kingdom. In a post on X, Graham expressed frustration that Riyadh had declined to participate militarily despite what he described as a shared interest in defeating Iran.
'Americans are dying and the US is spending billions to dislodge the terrorist Iranian regime,' Graham wrote. 'Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia seems to be issuing statements and doing things in the background that are marginally helpful.' He added: 'Hopefully Gulf Cooperation Council countries will get more involved as this fight is in their backyard. If not, consequences will follow.'
The threat comes as Riyadh seeks a formal US security guarantee modelled on Washington's treaty with Japan. In May 2025, the Trump administration described a $142bn arms package as the largest defence cooperation agreement in US history, and in November it granted Saudi Arabia major non-Nato ally status. However, a binding mutual defence pact remains unsigned.
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned Iranian strikes on Monday as 'unjustifiable' and stated that Riyadh retains 'its full right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its citizens'. It made no mention of joining US operations.
Graham has been a key advocate for the war, pressing Donald Trump to authorise strikes on Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported that Graham first raised the idea during a round of golf after the 2024 election and made repeated trips to Israel and Saudi Arabia to build support. The US launched airstrikes on 28 February, killing Iran's supreme leader and dozens of senior officials. Iran responded with missiles and drones, killing seven US personnel and wounding eight.
