Riyadh/Washington, Aug. 3: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss growing concerns over a possible military strike on Iran, according to U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter.
The call came amid reports of a potential large-scale attack on Iran and followed U.S. warnings advising American citizens in several Middle Eastern countries to remain alert and be prepared to leave if necessary.
According to one U.S. official, Saudi Arabia expressed concern over the escalating situation and sought greater clarity regarding Washington’s plans. Another source said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged President Trump to avoid military action and work toward de-escalating tensions in the region.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with the foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. During the talks, he warned that any aggression by the United States or Israel would receive a “precise and appropriate” response.
The White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the reported conversation.
At the same time, U.S. embassies in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates issued online security alerts, warning American citizens of the possibility of unexpected escalation across the region.
President Trump has recently warned that Iran could face a “very hard” military response if ongoing efforts to reach a new agreement with Tehran fail. He also accused Iran of breaking commitments and providing misleading information, saying he was losing confidence in the negotiations.
