Saudi Arabia has privately urged Iran to swiftly accept a nuclear agreement proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, warning that delays could trigger an Israeli military strike and plunge the region into deeper conflict, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.
In a previously undisclosed high-level meeting on April 17 in Tehran, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman delivered a direct message from King Salman bin Abdulaziz to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to multiple Gulf and Iranian sources. The message: engage seriously with Trump's nuclear proposal or face potentially devastating consequences.
Urgent Diplomacy Amid High Stakes
The warning was conveyed during Prince Khalid’s rare visit to the Iranian presidential compound, where he met with President Masoud Pezeshkian, armed forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
Sources said Prince Khalid stressed that President Trump’s patience was limited and his administration was seeking a quick, decisive deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. He also cautioned that failure to reach an agreement might embolden Israel—whose prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been vocal about the need for military options—to take unilateral action.
“The message was clear: the region can’t afford another escalation,” said one Gulf source. “Riyadh is deeply concerned that a breakdown in talks could lead to a war no one can win.”
Iran Signals Willingness, Cites Concerns
In the meeting, Pezeshkian reportedly expressed interest in reaching a deal, citing the need to ease economic pressures caused by Western sanctions. However, Iranian officials also voiced unease over what they described as Trump’s unpredictable negotiating style, particularly inconsistent positions on uranium enrichment.
Tehran has said it wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium for civilian use under a future deal. Reuters previously reported Iran may consider pausing enrichment if the U.S. unfreezes Iranian funds and offers political assurances—claims later denied by Iran’s foreign ministry.
Regional and Strategic Context
The high-level Saudi visit—the first of its kind in over two decades—comes amid shifting alliances and diminished Iranian regional influence. Iran and its allied groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis, have suffered major military setbacks, while Syria’s Assad regime—once a linchpin of Iran’s influence—has collapsed.
A recent Trump visit to the Gulf reinforced Saudi Arabia’s status as the leader of a new Sunni strategic axis, filling the vacuum left by Iran’s declining regional sway. Trump also reportedly mediated a Gulf-led reconciliation between himself and Syria’s new leadership.
During his meeting, Prince Khalid called on Tehran to rethink its regional posture and avoid escalatory actions, including those by proxy groups like the Houthis, which Saudi Arabia has previously blamed for the 2019 Aramco drone attacks.
“Tehran’s weakness has created a window for Saudi diplomacy,” said Mohanad Hage Ali, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Middle East Center. “Riyadh wants to avoid war—it threatens its economic vision and regional aspirations.”
Trump’s Pressure Campaign and Uncertain Future
President Trump has warned of “grave consequences” if diplomacy fails, while publicly stating that talks are close to a resolution. The White House declined to confirm whether it had knowledge of the Saudi warning, but emphasized Trump’s position that Iran must accept a deal or face serious repercussions.
Sources said Prince Khalid assured Iranian officials that Saudi territory would not be used by the U.S. or Israel for strikes on Iran—a move meant to underscore Riyadh’s preference for diplomacy over confrontation.
Still, the warning reflects a broader concern among Gulf leaders that inaction or missteps by Iran could spark another conflict, derailing years of cautious rapprochement and destabilizing a region already strained by the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.
While Tehran has signaled interest in dialogue, deep mistrust remains, and the future of the Trump-brokered nuclear talks now hangs in the balance. The coming weeks may determine whether the region moves toward a fragile détente—or back to the brink of war.
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasing...
U.S. authorities say they have thwarted an ISIS‑inspired terrorist attack planned for New Year’s Eve in the town of Mint Hill, North Carolina, arr...
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro...
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further esc...
Russian airstrikes have devasted apartment buildings in a residential area of Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine, injuring at least 25 people according to...
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has launched a five-day joint anti-terrorism exercise codenamed Sahand-2025 in Iran’s northwest province of East Azarbaijan under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
U.S. President Donald Trump announced $270 billion in deals signed between U.S. and Saudi companies at the Washington investment conference.
Donald Trump defended Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman during talks at the White House, offering a different view from U.S. intelligence assessments on the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi as the Saudi leader made his first Washington visit in more than seven years.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasingly affecting civilians.
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russian forces continued to advance.
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further escalate tensions as Saudi-backed government forces seek to retake territory seized by the group last month.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
Suhail Shaheen, Afghanistan’s ambassador in Doha, has again urged the United Nations to transfer Afghanistan’s seat at the UN to the Taliban-led administration, arguing the current arrangement no longer reflects realities in the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment