Lindsey Graham met Saudi leader to 'bring him on board' a week before Iran attack
US Senator Lindsey Graham traveled to Saudi Arabia late in February to bring Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “on board” with an attack on Iran, and the Saudi leader did not vehemently oppose it, a US official familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.
Graham’s visit was previously reported, but the purpose of the meeting with the Saudi crown prince has not been previously revealed.
The visit suggests that the Trump administration had made up its mind to attack Iran even as negotiations were ongoing with the Islamic Republic.
Despite preferring a diplomatic deal, the Iranian strikes have galvanised anger in the Gulf. A US and Arab official familiar with the matter told MEE that Saudi Arabia is now inching closer to supporting military action against Iran.
Saudi Arabia’s Press agency said on Saturday that Riyadh condemned “the brutal Iranian attacks” against fellow Gulf states, which they said undermined the region’s “security and stability”.
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Trump held a phone call with the Saudi crown prince on Saturday. The details of that call have been kept quiet.
Graham dispatched to Saudi Arabia
Graham called his meeting with the Saudi crown prince “consequential” in a post on X. He also heaped praise on Saudi Arabia, days after criticising it for a rift with the UAE.
“I have come to know the Crown Prince over the last five years, and remain impressed by his vision for his country and the region,” Graham wrote.
The US-Israeli attack on Iran is fast spiraling into a wider regional conflict, with Iran unleashing hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones across the Gulf.
Using American air-defense systems, the Gulf states have been able to shot down the vast majority of missiles and drones.
Iran has been able to sneak through some Shahed drones, which have proved effective in hitting luxury hotels in Dubai and US military installations.
The UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait have borne the brunt of the attacks, but Saudi Arabia has also been targeted.
At least three US soldiers have been killed by Iranian strikes and five others seriously wounded. An Iranian missile penetrated Israel’s air defence on Sunday killing at least 9 people in Beit Shemesh, an Israeli city about 18 miles west of Jerusalem.
Iran says that Israeli-US strikes in the country have killed at least 200, with several officials, including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the offensive.
Saudi Arabia considers joining offensive
Saudi Arabia was at the forefront of regional countries urging the US to pursue a diplomatic deal with the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme.
Neither the US nor the Arab official told MEE that the kingdom lobbied for a surprise attack, as some reporting suggests.
The officials who spoke with MEE said the conversations with Washington are more nuanced.
In January, MEE revealed that the Trump administration lobbied Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman about the importance of supporting the US during a future attack, with talking points about how military strikes could reduce Iran’s threat to partners in the region and its ballistic missile arsenal.
It’s unclear whether Trump was seeking a public commitment from the Gulf or acquiescence behind closed doors, which the US official told MEE it received.
There are multiple ways the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, could assist the US without directly joining in offensive operations.
The US and Israel are running low on interceptors like Thaad, Patriots, Arrow and David’s Sling to stop Iranian ballistic missiles.
Saudi Arabia activated its first Thaad air defence system last year. Three more systems are expected to be completed in 2026. During the June US-Israeli attack, US officials asked Saudi Arabia to contribute Thaad interceptors to Israel’s defence. The kingdom refused at the time.
Since Iran is already launching strikes on Saudi Arabia, the kingdom could already be using those interceptors.
The Gulf states face a dilemma whether to join the US and Iran in offensive operations. So far, their energy infrastructure has not been targeted. By joining in an attack they could invite further Iranian reprisals.
However, the Gulf states may also feel the need to assert redlines against the Islamic Republic.
“Iran is forcing the GCC up the escalation ladder. They will have to consider responding or, at a minimum, allowing the US greater operational freedom to conduct offensive operations from their territories,” Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East at the Eurasia Group, wrote on X.
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