Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman has delivered a direct warning to Iranian officials, urging them to accept U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for serious negotiations over a new nuclear deal—framing it as the only path to avoid war with Israel.
According to two Gulf sources close to high-level government circles, and confirmed by Iranian officials cited by Reuters, King Salman bin Abdulaziz (age 89) dispatched his son, Prince Khalid, to convey a private warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, amid growing fears in Riyadh of escalating instability across the region.
The closed-door meeting reportedly took place on April 17 at the presidential complex in Tehran. Attendees included Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
While the media covered Prince Khalid’s official visit to Tehran, the true content of King Salman’s message had not been disclosed—until now.
Sources indicate that Prince Khalid, formerly Saudi ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first term, warned Iranian leaders that the U.S. president’s patience would not last amid prolonged diplomatic back-and-forth.
Just days earlier, Trump had surprised the world by announcing that his administration was engaging in direct talks with Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief. The announcement came alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had flown to Washington seeking U.S. backing for military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
According to the sources, Prince Khalid told the Iranian delegation that Trump’s team is eager for a swift deal, and that the window for diplomacy is closing rapidly.
The two Gulf officials stated that the Saudi Defence Minister urged Iran to choose negotiation with the United States over risking a potential Israeli attack should the talks collapse.
Trump’s Candid Comments
On Wednesday, President Trump responded to a journalist’s question regarding whether he had warned Israel against disrupting the nuclear talks with Iran.
“Let me be clear. Yes, I did,” Trump said.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump clarified that while it wasn’t a formal warning, he expressed that military escalation would be “inappropriate” at this stage, stating:
“We’re having very good discussions. I said, ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate now.’ If we can solve this with a very strong document, with inspections and without trust…”
“I don’t trust anyone. I trust no one,” he added. “So I want this document to be so strong that we can enter with inspectors, take what we need, and destroy what we need—without killing anyone. We can blow up a lab, but make sure no one’s inside. Not like bombing it while people are there. There are two ways to do things.”
Key Context & Regional Shifts
This Saudi intervention signals Riyadh’s increasing concern over regional destabilisation and a potential direct confrontation between Iran and Israel. It also underscores Saudi Arabia’s recalibrated stance—less inclined toward open conflict, and more focused on diplomatic containment of Iran through U.S.-led frameworks.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to push for a military solution, despite opposition from its own allies. Trump’s insistence on a non-lethal, high-surveillance agreement highlights a growing divergence between Tel Aviv’s hawkishness and Washington’s strategic caution.
