WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, is quietly pushing President Donald Trump to continue and expand military strikes against Iran, seeing the conflict as a “historic opportunity” to weaken Tehran’s grip on the region, according to a New York Times report published Tuesday.
The report, citing private discussions among senior officials, said the crown prince has encouraged a more aggressive approach as the U.S.-Israeli air campaign enters its first month.
A push for escalation
Mohammed bin Salman, often referred to as MBS, is said to favor going beyond the current round of airstrikes. His proposal includes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure and, in some cases, involving U.S. troops to seize key sites. The goal, according to the report, would be to destabilize or even bring down Iran’s government.
The war began Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated surprise strikes across multiple Iranian cities and military locations. Since then, the campaign has continued with a steady pace of attacks, though it has stopped short of a broader ground operation.
Behind the scenes, U.S. officials say the Saudi leader has been in frequent contact with Trump. In those conversations, he has urged the president to “keep hitting the Iranians hard,” reinforcing a more hawkish view of the conflict.
As JFeed’s Gila Isaacson reports:
In several calls over the past week, the de facto Saudi ruler told Trump that Iran represents a long-term existential threat to the Gulf and that there is no way to neutralize it short of removing the current government, the newspaper said, citing U.S. officials briefed on the discussions.
The crown prince went further, suggesting the United States should consider deploying forces inside Iran to seize control of its energy infrastructure as a way to force regime change, the report said. When Trump expressed concerns about the potential for higher oil prices and broader economic damage, Prince Mohammed reassured him that any such consequences would be temporary, the Times reported.
The disclosure comes as the U.S. and Israel press a sustained air campaign against Iranian targets while Trump has publicly weighed scaling back operations and pursuing talks aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia has so far avoided direct involvement in the fighting but has grown more assertive behind the scenes as Iranian missiles and drones have targeted Gulf infrastructure.
Public caution, private pressure
In public, Saudi Arabia has adopted a measured tone. Officials have called for stability and avoided openly supporting further escalation. They have also denied reports that they are encouraging the United States to prolong the war, calling those claims “false.”
Neither the Saudi government nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment from The New York Times.
Long-standing rivalry shapes strategy
Saudi Arabia’s position reflects a longstanding strategic rivalry with Iran that has shaped Middle East politics for decades. Riyadh views Tehran as its primary regional competitor, particularly in conflicts and power struggles across Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions have heightened those concerns. For years, Saudi Arabia has aligned closely with Washington in efforts to contain Iran, both militarily and economically.
From that perspective, the current conflict presents a potential opportunity. Saudi leaders appear to believe a sustained campaign could shift the balance of power in the Gulf in ways diplomacy has not.
Uncertain path forward
It remains unclear how much influence the crown prince’s position holds within the White House. Expanding the conflict — particularly with the introduction of U.S. ground forces — would represent a significant escalation and carry substantial risks, including the possibility of broader regional retaliation.
As the conflict continues, pressure from regional allies such as Saudi Arabia could play a role in shaping U.S. decision-making.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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Here’s a better idea….How ’bout ‘Prince Ali’ pay for ANY additional bombing of Iran and ANY troops on the ground be SAUDI troops?
This article states that the war began Feb. 28 of this year. That is incorrect. The war began 47 years ago and the current operation began Feb. 28. It would be great to see Patrick Houck update the article. America was attacked 47 year ago when the Iran Hostage Crisis began as they attacked our US Embassy – equivalent to US Soil! Ever since Iran’s government has funded terrorist attacks around the world including with many against the U.S.