US and Saudi Arabia Clash Over Iran Operation, Trump Threatens to Withhold Arms Shipments
Military relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia reportedly experienced serious tension amid the conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran. The administration of President Donald Trump allegedly threatened to suspend the delivery of critical defence systems to Riyadh after the kingdom refused to support a major Washington military operation.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed the report on Tuesday, citing several US and Arab officials familiar with the matter. According to the report, the dispute originated from a US military operation named Project Freedom. Washington launched the operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran disrupted commercial shipping lanes following US and Israeli military aggression against the country.
WSJ reported that more than 100 US military aircraft began taking off from bases and warships in the Middle East region. However, the operation came to an abrupt halt after Saudi Arabia refused to grant US forces access to its military bases and airspace. The media outlet described the incident as one of the most serious crises in US-Saudi military relations in recent years.
According to the report, Trump launched Project Freedom in early May, describing it as an effort to protect international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the announcement, US warships entered the Persian Gulf, while fighter jets, helicopters, drones, and underwater systems were deployed to escort commercial vessels. However, Saudi Arabia viewed the operation as potentially exacerbating the conflict. “Saudi Arabia, whose military bases and airspace the US needed, feared the operation would provoke Iran,” WSJ wrote.
After consulting with his advisers, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly conveyed directly to Trump that the operation would only heighten tensions with Iran and should be reconsidered. During the operation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting commercial shipping lanes, the US naval fleet, and the UAE’s oil transit hub. Riyadh’s refusal to grant military access ultimately forced Washington to halt Project Freedom.