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Friday, May 30, 2025
Report: Saudi Arabia warned Iran to make nuclear deal with US or risk war with Israel
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Saudi Arabia’s defense minister warned Iranian officials in Tehran last month that they should take US President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement seriously because it presents a way to avoid the risk of war with Israel, according to Saudi and Iranian sources.
Saudi Arabia’s 89-year-old King Salman bin Abdulaziz dispatched his son, Prince Khalid bin Salman, with the warning destined for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to two Gulf sources close to government circles and two Iranian officials.
Present at the closed-door meeting in Tehran, which took place on April 17 in the presidential compound, were Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the sources say.
While media covered the visit of the 37-year-old prince — who is also Saudi Arabia’s defense minister — the content of King Salman’s covert message has not been previously reported.
Prince Khalid, who was Saudi ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first term, warned Iranian officials that the US leader has little patience for drawn-out negotiations, according to the four sources.
The Saudi minister said it would be better to reach a deal with the US than face the possibility of an Israeli attack if the talks broke down, the two Gulf sources say.
He argued that the region — already riven by recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon — could not withstand a further escalation in tensions, say the two Gulf sources and one senior foreign diplomat familiar with the discussions.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia and Iran do not respond to requests for comment.
The report comes after Hebrew media reported yesterday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, along with Qatari Emir Tamim Al Thani, Emirati President Mohammed Bin Zayed, told Trump during his visit earlier this month that they were opposed to a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program.
The leaders said they believe their countries will be targeted by Iran in case of an attack.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.