Saudi Arabia’s leadership has grown increasingly disillusioned with Washington over US President Donald Trump’s handling of the war on Iran, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing mounting frustration with what officials view as erratic decision-making and escalating rhetoric.
According to the report, Riyadh now has an “utter sense of disappointment with the White House,” reflecting a sharp deterioration in confidence after years of efforts to strengthen ties with the United States. Analysts say the strain has been driven by:
- Trump’s threats to target Iranian energy infrastructure,
- His suggestion that Gulf states should finance the war,
- and remarks perceived as disrespectful toward Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
The tensions were compounded after Trump publicly shifted tone toward the Saudi leader during a speech, praising him before later stating, “he [Prince Mohammed] didn’t think he’d be kissing my a**,” adding, “You tell him he’d better be nice to me.” The comments, delivered in front of senior Saudi officials, were widely viewed in Riyadh as emblematic of what one expert described as the president’s “crude and unpredictable behaviour.”
Strategic uncertainty rising
Saudi officials are also increasingly concerned about the broader trajectory of the war on Iran, particularly the absence of a clear US strategy. Trump has suggested that regional actors would be responsible for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and has signalled he could abruptly end the war without a comprehensive settlement, further fueling unease.
The Financial Times noted that Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, feel they have been drawn into a war they initially sought to avoid, while now facing direct security risks from Iranian retaliation. Tehran has demonstrated its capacity to strike critical infrastructure across the region, heightening fears in Riyadh over its vulnerability to sustained attacks.
Although Saudi Arabia continues to view Iran as a “strategic threat” and supports efforts to curb its missile and drone capabilities, according to the report, the kingdom has reportedly opposed actions that could trigger uncontrolled escalation, such as attacks on energy infrastructure or attempts at regime change.
Escalation fears mount
The report added that Gulf officials were alarmed when Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iranian power plants, prompting urgent outreach from Arab states to US officials, warning that such moves could provoke overwhelming retaliation.
At the same time, Riyadh is wary that Washington could ultimately disengage from the war on Iran, leaving the region exposed to a still-capable and retaliatory Tehran. This concern has driven Saudi Arabia to prioritise de-escalation, with officials increasingly advocating for a negotiated end to the war.
The Financial Times report builds on an earlier report by Reuters on March 11, which indicated that Gulf states were already bearing the economic and security fallout of the war. Officials warned at the time that they were being drawn into a war they neither initiated nor supported, even as Iranian retaliatory strikes disrupted infrastructure, energy flows, and regional stability.
“It is not our war. We did not want this conflict, yet we are paying the price in our security and our economy,” Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Centre, told Reuters.
