US Media: Saudi Crown Prince Expresses Concern to Trump Over Large-Scale Strike on Iran, Urges Restraint

August 2nd, according to Axios, two U.S. officials and one source familiar with the matter revealed that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke with U.S. President Trump on Saturday, expressing concerns about his new plan to strike Iran on a large scale. Earlier, media reports indicated that Trump is seriously considering attacking Iranian energy targets in the coming days in response to Iran's missile strike on the Jordanian military base and its ongoing disruptions of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. However, as of now, he has not issued a final order. "The Saudi side has expressed concerns and requested a clear action plan," said one U.S. official.

Another source familiar with the call said Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to ease tensions and avoid launching an attack. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important U.S. allies in the region. Although there have been tense periods in the past five months, Riyadh has influenced Trump's Iran policy at critical moments since the outbreak of the war. Other regional powers, including Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and Pakistan, are also pressuring the U.S. and Iran to ease tensions. (FXStreet)