Trump Receives Divergent Advice from Saudi Arabia and Israel on Iran Conflict
President Trump met separately with Saudi and Israeli officials who offered opposing recommendations on how to handle the ongoing war with Iran, highlighting growing uncertainty over diplomatic and military options.
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met on Wednesday with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, who conveyed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's request for a de-escalation of the war with Iran and warned of the risks of prolonging the fighting. The Saudi delegation arrived at the West Wing shortly after an earlier meeting in the Oval Office with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the Israeli leader expressed doubt that diplomacy with Tehran would succeed and discussed options for increasing pressure on Iran, including the possibility of renewed large-scale military action.
U.S. officials said direct talks with Iran are not expected to resume soon, and some in the administration view Iran's Revolutionary Guard as the primary decision-maker in Tehran, complicating diplomatic outreach. A senior U.S. official noted that resuming direct diplomacy does not appear imminent.
"I think we just want to win," President Trump said when asked about reviving stalled diplomatic efforts. "They’ll get weaker. They’ll get a little stronger maybe now. Then they’ll get weaker. And then they’ll peter out."
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that Iran would "continue to pay" until it agrees to a settlement acceptable to the president, citing a recent memorandum of understanding that the United States says Iran violated by targeting commercial shipping and U.S. personnel.
Military planners have presented several escalation scenarios, including a two-week air campaign aimed at degrading Iran's missile capabilities. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine warned that air power alone has limits, and concerns have been raised about the availability of air-defense interceptors and the potential for civilian casualties from strikes on infrastructure.
Regional actors are also discussing a short-term arrangement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane whose closure would have global economic repercussions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the administration is working toward a solution that would demonstrate military success while restoring the waterway.
Saudi officials emphasized that while they support joint operations against Iran-backed militias, they prefer a de-escalation and view Israel as the party pushing for further escalation. The divergent messages underscore the complex diplomatic landscape facing the White House as it seeks a path forward in the conflict.