Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman cautioned during a closed-door briefing in Washington on Friday that failing to act on U.S. threats against Iran would leave Tehran more confident and politically strengthened, according to people familiar with the discussion.
In remarks cited by Axios, Prince Khalid, the brother of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, told think tank analysts and representatives of Jewish organizations, “At this point, if this doesn’t happen, it will only embolden the regime.”
The warning comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to escalate, with President Donald Trump publicly raising the possibility of military action to pressure Iran back into nuclear negotiations following recent American and Israeli operations targeting Iranian-linked sites. During the briefing, Prince Khalid underscored the importance of limiting the risk of wider regional escalation should any strike be carried out.
The message appeared to contrast with more conciliatory signals from Riyadh in recent days, including a call between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which Saudi Arabia reportedly assured Iran that its airspace would not be used for attacks and emphasized the need for regional stability. The briefing was part of Prince Khalid’s broader visit to the United States, which included meetings at the Pentagon, the State Department, and the White House focused largely on Iran.
While no U.S. strike has yet taken place, the situation remains highly volatile following recent U.S. and Israeli actions against Iranian targets. Iran has threatened immediate retaliation in response to any direct attack, leaving the Trump administration weighing the risks of military action against the prospect of the “emboldened” Iran that Prince Khalid warned could emerge from continued inaction.
The hypocrisy!