Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Urges Trump to Destroy Iranian Regime

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed President Donald Trump to continue and intensify the war against Iran, describing the ongoing military campaign as a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Middle East, The New York Times reported on Tuesday, March 24, citing people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations. According to the newspaper, the two leaders held a series of conversations during the week prior to March 24, in which Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to press for the destruction of Iran's government, arguing that the Islamic Republic represents a long-term threat to the Persian Gulf that can only be eliminated by removing the regime in Tehran. The Saudi government swiftly denied the report, stating it has always supported a peaceful resolution to the conflict. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declined to comment, saying the administration "does not comment on the president's private conversations."

The current war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began on February 28, 2026, in an operation that killed former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Following his death, Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was appointed as the new Supreme Leader of Iran in March 2026. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran had been strained for years, including a 2019 attack on Saudi oil facilities carried out with Iran's support, which briefly halted half of the kingdom's oil production. Saudi Arabia subsequently sought diplomatic easing and reestablished ties with Iran to reduce the risk of further offensives before the current conflict erupted.

Riyadh fears a wounded Iran more than a defeated one The Saudi position, as described by analysts cited in the Times report, reflects a calculation shaped by fear of what comes after, not just what is happening now. Analysts familiar with Saudi power told the newspaper that Mohammed bin Salman would probably have preferred to avoid war initially, but now views the worst-case scenario as Trump settling for an "unfinished" conflict that leaves Saudi Arabia and other regional states facing an Iran more aggressive and emboldened than before. The prince reportedly argued that Iran's ability to periodically close the Strait of Hormuz poses an existential economic threat to Gulf states. Mohammed bin Salman also reportedly advocated for ground operations to achieve the regime's removal, going further than current U.S. military posture. Reports also emerged, according to Bloomberg as cited by LaSexta, that Gulf countries including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are considering military participation in the conflict if Iran attacks their critical infrastructure, with Oman preferring to maintain its role as mediator. Senior officials in both the Saudi and U.S. governments, however, privately fear that a prolonged conflict could draw increasingly punishing Iranian strikes against Saudi oil facilities and trap Washington in an open-ended war.

Trump pauses energy strikes, Iran rejects ceasefire proposal President Trump announced on Monday, March 23, a five-day pause in attacks on energy infrastructure, and said his administration and Iran had held "productive discussions on a complete and total resolution of hostilities." Iran disputed the characterization, with Tehran denying that formal negotiations are underway and acknowledging only the existence of "contacts." The Trump administration sent a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Iran through Pakistan, which Iran rejected, with Tehran issuing its own counter-proposal calling for reparations. Despite the announced pause, Iranian officials on Tuesday reported new U.S.-Israeli strikes on energy facilities, including a gas pipeline at the Khorramshahr power plant. Web search results indicate Trump appeared increasingly interested in finding an off-ramp from the conflict, described by his own framing as "winding down" the war, even as reports of a possible ground operation targeting Iran's Kharg Island — through which, according to reporting, 90 percent of Iran's oil passes — circulated in Washington. A U.S. official confirmed to the Jerusalem Post an "intensification" of the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, which the official said could signal an imminent ground operation.

Saudi denial contrasts sharply with reported private stance The Saudi government issued a formal statement rejecting the Times report, saying the kingdom "has always supported a peaceful resolution to this conflict, even before it began." Riyadh acknowledged that its officials "remain in close contact with the Trump administration" but said its "commitment remains unchanged." The government added that its "main concern today is to defend ourselves against the daily attacks on our people and our civilian infrastructure," and accused Iran of choosing "a policy of dangerous risk rather than serious diplomatic solutions." The contrast between the public denial and the reported private conversations reflects the broader tension facing Gulf states, which have worked in recent years to stabilize relations with Tehran but now face Iranian drone and missile strikes launched in response to the U.S.-Israeli offensive. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares the view that Iran represents a long-term threat, though analysts cited by the Times noted a divergence: Israeli officials would likely regard a failed Iranian state mired in internal turmoil as a victory, while Saudi Arabia views such an outcome as a direct and serious security threat on its doorstep. The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader following his father's death in the February 28 strikes has so far represented continuity rather than collapse of the Iranian regime, complicating both the Saudi and Israeli calculus.