MBS Urges Trump to Dismantle Iranian Regime, Calls It a Historic Opportunity
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East now entering their fourth week, the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is once again under intense scrutiny. The conflict, sparked by joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran last month, has revealed behind-the-scenes diplomatic dynamics involving high-level lobbying.
According to a recent New York Times report, MBS is said to have urged US President Donald Trump to continue military operations against Iran. The Saudi leader described the current situation as a historic opportunity to reshape the geopolitical order in the Middle East.
Citing sources familiar with the discussions, MBS conveyed to Washington that the US must press forward towards dismantling Iran’s hardline government. He argued that Iran poses an existential long-term threat to Gulf countries and that only a change in leadership in Tehran can permanently eliminate that risk.
The report not only urged targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure but also mentioned that in some discussions, Saudi officials floated the idea of deploying ground forces to ensure stability during a regional transition.
Although the Saudi Kingdom officially denies claims of such personal pressure, President Donald Trump issued statements reinforcing indications of their military partnership. When asked about the NYT report on Tuesday (24 March 2026), Trump praised MBS as a loyal ally.
“He is a fighter. By the way, he fights with us. Saudi Arabia is very good,” Trump emphasised to the media.
Saudi involvement in this escalation was suspected from the outset. The Washington Post reported that Trump’s decision to attack Iran at the end of February was taken after weeks of intensive lobbying by Israel and Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also held talks with MBS. Starmer affirmed the UK’s support for Saudi Arabia and informed of additional deployments of British defence military equipment to the region.
“Iran’s ongoing attacks, including against critical national infrastructure, are deeply concerning,” said a Downing Street spokesperson referring to Starmer’s statement.
This four-week conflict began with a military strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on 28 February 2026. Since then, Iran has retaliated by targeting US and Israeli assets in Gulf countries, directly disrupting trade routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional stability is a key pillar of MBS’s Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global investment hub. However, the trauma of Iran’s 2019 drone attacks on Aramco facilities, which cut production by 5.7 million barrels per day, appears to have triggered a paradigm shift in Riyadh. Regional officials warn that trust between the Gulf bloc and Iran has now been completely shattered.
The long-standing rivalry between Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shia powerhouse Iran is entering its most dangerous phase. Analysts assess that, regardless of how this conflict ends, the diplomatic wounds inflicted will cause long-term instability for international energy markets and the global economy.