Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urges Trump to continue war against Iran

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been privately urging US President Donald Trump to continue the military campaign against Iran.

“law," government officials said in a statement”

Anadolu Agency

MBS frames the conflict as a "historic opportunity" to fundamentally reshape the Middle East's strategic landscape.

Anadolu Agency

The crown prince has engaged in a series of phone conversations with Trump over the past week.

He consistently advocated for sustained military pressure aimed at the destruction of Iran's "hard-line government."

MBS reportedly views the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign as a defining moment for regional restructuring.

MBS believes Iran poses a long-term threat to Gulf stability that can only be eliminated through regime change.

Saudi Arabia and Israel both view Iran as a primary strategic threat but have important strategic divergences.

Anadolu Agency

Israeli officials would likely view a weakened Iran as a strategic win if it's consumed by internal turmoil.

Saudi Arabia fears that a failed Iranian state could trigger regional chaos and pose direct security risks.

This difference explains why MBS insists on total regime change rather than just degrading capabilities.

Saudi Arabia has maintained a publicly cautious stance, officially denying any push to prolong the conflict.

The Saudi government stated it "has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began."

There's a clear public-private divergence in Saudi Arabia's position on the war.

Saudi officials must publicly maintain commitment to diplomacy to avoid appearing as warhawks.

The kingdom highlighted its vulnerabilities from daily Iranian attacks on civilian infrastructure.

MBS has encouraged more aggressive military measures including potential US ground troop deployment.

He suggested seizing Iranian energy infrastructure to force government collapse.

CNBCTV18

The crown prince specifically mentioned Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub, as a target.

Trump has given "more serious consideration" to such risky amphibious or airborne operations.

MBS assured Trump that economic turbulence would be "merely temporary" despite global risks.

The conflict has caused severe economic and security damage to the Gulf region.

“According to Iranian state television, the US has recently attempted to talk with Iran through middlemen, but the Tehran administration has not reacted”

CNBCTV18

Iranian attacks have effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil supplies.

Daily Kos

Oil prices have soared due to the disruption of this critical shipping lane.

Saudi bypass pipelines have also been targeted, worsening economic damage.

The war has killed foreign workers and injured dozens, affecting MBS's Vision 2030 economic plans.

Saudi Arabia and UAE are reconsidering neutrality and moving toward direct involvement in the war.

Saudi Arabia agreed to allow US forces to use King Fahd Air Base, reversing earlier neutrality.

Sources say it's "only a matter of time before the kingdom enters the war."

The UAE has shut down Iranian institutions and could freeze Iranian assets.

These moves reflect regional realignment as Gulf leaders face difficult strategic choices.