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.
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