Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman holds U.S. President Donald Trump's hand during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., Nov. 18, 2025. (Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
BEIRUT — Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged U.S. President Donald Trump to continue the war against Iran, viewing the U.S.-Israeli military campaign as a "historic opportunity" to reshape the Middle East, according to American sources cited by the New York Times (NYT).
During several conversations last week, the crown prince pressed Trump on the need to go as far as destroying the Iranian regime, which he considers a long-term threat to Gulf countries. According to these sources, this threat could only be eliminated by ending the current power in Tehran.
Mohammed bin Salman also reportedly encouraged strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure to weaken the regime and raised the possibility of ground operations, including seizing strategic sites such as Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil exports.
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