Saudi defense chief presses Trump on Iran de-escalation
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- Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Trump on Wednesday after telling VP Vance that Saudi Arabia favors de-escalation with Iran, despite this week's joint U.S.-Saudi strikes on pro-Iranian militias in Iraq.
- CENTCOM and Saudi Arabia's military conducted joint strikes Tuesday against pro-Iranian Iraqi militias, responding to more than 30 IRGC-directed drone attacks on Saudi targets over the previous 72 hours.
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman conveyed that the Iraq strikes don't signal Saudi Arabia is pro-escalation but rather that it's prepared to defend itself; Prince Khalid separately told Vance that Netanyahu is pushing for escalation while Saudi Arabia sees de-escalation as 'a more fruitful path.'
- Saudi Arabia struck Iraqi militias partly to deter Iran-backed Houthis, who threatened a naval blockade on Saudi ports and attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea after Trump backed military action against them two weeks ago.
- Prince Khalid told Vance the kingdom can manage the Houthi situation without U.S. involvement and is currently negotiating with the group.
Why it matters: Saudi Arabia is publicly splitting with Israel over Iran strategy inside the White House: Prince Khalid told Vance that Netanyahu is pushing for escalation while MBS sees de-escalation as 'a more fruitful path.' The kingdom's assertion it can handle the Houthis without U.S. help removes one justification for widening the regional war and gives Trump an Arab ally to cite when resisting Israeli escalation demands.
