Saudi crown prince secretly lobbied Trump to attack Iran
Sydney Morning Herald
by Melanie Swan, Kieran KellyMarch 1, 2026
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Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has secretly lobbied U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran, according to reports by *The Washington Post*. The crown prince made multiple phone calls to Trump in recent weeks, urging action despite public statements from Saudi officials that the kingdom would not allow its airspace for such operations. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued his long-standing efforts to push the U.S. to act against Iran.
Iran retaliated after the U.S. and Israel carried out strikes on Saturday, which killed its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran's报复 included targeting residential buildings in neighboring countries, such as Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait, which has unified Gulf states despite their differences. Leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, who had previously been at odds, spoke directly after the attacks to coordinate their response. The crown prince emphasized Saudi Arabia's readiness to support its neighbors, even as Iran's retaliatory strikes confirmed the kingdom's vulnerability.
The joint attack on Saturday came despite American intelligence assessments that Iran's military posed no immediate threat to the U.S. mainland within the next decade. However, Prince Mohammed argued that delaying action would only strengthen Iran's position. His lobbying reflects a broader regional shift, with Gulf states uniting against Iran's destabilizing influence. Experts note that Iran's attacks have inadvertently pushed Gulf nations closer together and potentially increased their cooperation with the U.S.
The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, where longstanding rivalries between Gulf states are being overshadowed by a common threat from Iran. While differences persist over issues like involvement in Yemen and Sudan, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE agree
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Originally published on Sydney Morning Herald on 3/1/2026