Saudi Arabia says it backed talks with Iran, not military action
Saudi Arabia on Monday denied reports that the country was lobbying US President Donald Trump to strike Iran, saying that the kingdom has been supporting efforts to reach a deal with Tehran.
Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said in a post on X: “At no point in all our communication with the Trump Administration did we lobby the President to adopt a different policy.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been consistent in supporting diplomatic efforts to reach a credible deal with Iran."
Last week, the Washington Post reported that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, argued in favour of an attack during multiple phone calls with Donald Trump within the past month.
However, Middle East Eye reported on Sunday that US Senator Lindsey Graham travelled to Saudi Arabia in late February to bring Mohammed bin Salman “on board” and convince him to back an attack.
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The developments come amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran, after the countries began a joint attack that has already killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, several other top officials and hundreds of civilians. Around 150 girls were killed in a strike on a school in southern Iran on Saturday.
France, Germany and the UK said on Sunday that they stood ready to protect their interests and those of their Gulf allies and could take what they described as “defensive action” if required.
In January, Mohammed bin Salman told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a phone call that the kingdom would not allow its airspace or territory to be used for any military attack on Iran.
Gulf states could closer align with US
Iran has continued its retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israel and US assets in the region, including countries in the Gulf region.
Amid Iran's decision to strike targets ranging from the world-famous Fairmont hotel in Dubai to Jebel Ali port, analysts warned that the Gulf could be pushed into closer alignment with the US the longer the war dragged on.
"Iran is forcing the GCC up the escalation ladder," said Firas Maksad, who oversees Eurasia Group's coverage of Middle East and North Africa geopolitics.
"They will have to consider responding or, at a minimum, allowing the US greater operational freedom to conduct offensive operations from their territories."
The UAE's minister of state for international cooperation, Reem al-Hashimy, also appeared to suggest that the oil-rich state could open its airspace and bases to support US attacks if the retaliatory strikes continued.
On Sunday, Iran announced a new leadership and vowed revenge while attacking countries across the region.
Several senior military and political figures have been killed by Israel and the US since the two countries began striking Iran on Saturday morning. Donald Trump said 48 leaders had been killed.
Iranian authorities acknowledged several of the fatalities, including Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s defence council, and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.
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