The ruthless Saudi heir apparent harbors the dream of eliminating his great rival after the annihilation of the 'Hitler of the Middle East' in a dangerous double game.
Saudi posture toward Iran
El Mundo portrays Mohamed bin Salman (MBS) as a powerful, ruthless heir who welcomed the reported fall of the Iranian ayatollah Ali Jamanei.
“- Diplomacy: The rise of Saudi prince Mohamed Bin Salman to 'king of the Arabian Gulf' by the grace of Trump - Geopolitics: The war in Sudan, the world's largest humanitarian crisis, also produces a clash among Gulf monarchies It is not hard to picture the powerful and ruthless Saudi prince, Mohamed bin Salman (MBS), sipping some fruit juice in a toast when he was informed that the great Iranian ayatollah Ali Jamanei had been taken down”
The article says MBS has long viewed Tehran as his principal regional rival and recalls his 2017 description of Khomeini's successor as "the new Hitler" of the region.
The article alleges a double game: publicly Riad called for negotiations and urged Washington to avoid bombing, yet behind the scenes it pushed President Trump to act against Tehran.
It cites reporting that Khalid bin Salman, MSB's brother and one of his chief foreign-policy oracles, held meetings in the US earlier this year warning that without military action Tehran would grow more "emboldened," a claim the Saudi embassy spokesman Fahad Nazer denied.
The piece also links Saudi alignment with US and Israeli plans to the eve of the outbreak of Operation Epic Fury.
Gulf crisis dynamics
The article argues Riyadh sees the crisis as a historic opportunity to weaken or eliminate its great rival and to assert itself as "king of the Arabian Gulf," while warning that a prolonged, uncontrolled escalation could backfire.
It reports that Iran's reprisals have already struck neighboring monarchies, including strikes on Saudi infrastructure such as the Ras Tanura refinery operated by Saudi Aramco.
The article quotes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as apologizing to Arab neighbors while saying attacks on US bases and targets will continue.
El Mundo highlights Saudi vulnerabilities at home and across the Gulf, noting a 15% Shiite population inside the kingdom, unrest in Bahrain, and fears of internal tensions.
El Mundo also notes Riyadh has activated its first Thaad air defense system and planned three more for 2026, after refraining during the 12-day US–Israel campaign last June to provide interceptors to Israel.
Riyadh–Tehran nuclear stakes
El Mundo traces the geopolitical and domestic stakes of Riyadh's relationship with Tehran.
“- Diplomacy: The rise of Saudi prince Mohamed Bin Salman to 'king of the Arabian Gulf' by the grace of Trump - Geopolitics: The war in Sudan, the world's largest humanitarian crisis, also produces a clash among Gulf monarchies It is not hard to picture the powerful and ruthless Saudi prince, Mohamed bin Salman (MBS), sipping some fruit juice in a toast when he was informed that the great Iranian ayatollah Ali Jamanei had been taken down”
Riyadh resumed relations with Tehran in March 2023 but, the article says, never fully trusted Tehran, especially over the nuclear program.
El Mundo details behind-the-scenes US–Saudi discussions on civil nuclear cooperation.
It cites US Congress documents from 2026 showing progress toward a nuclear cooperation agreement that could allow Saudi uranium enrichment under IAEA supervision.
The article says Trump did not condition such cooperation on normalization with Israel as Biden had.
The piece links MBS's ambitions to consolidate regional hegemony with his contested leadership at home.
El Mundo cites MBS's failures in Yemen, strains with the United Arab Emirates, doubts about the financial viability of Vision 2030, and a large fiscal deficit compounded by war losses.
The article concludes that while MBS could benefit if the ayatollahs' regime collapses, the outcome could easily turn into a dangerous boomerang for the Kingdom of the Desert.
Key Takeaways
- Mohamed bin Salman aims to eliminate rival after 'Hitler of the Middle East' annihilation
- Trump's backing enabled Mohamed bin Salman's rise to 'king of the Arabian Gulf'
- Sudan war, the world's largest humanitarian crisis, fuels clashes between Gulf monarchies
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