At a highly critical sensitive regional juncture, Saudi Arabia has stepped up its diplomatic activity in Washington, seeking to push toward a negotiated track with Iran, amid a growing U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to carry out potential strikes against the Islamic Republic.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held a series of meetings on Friday in the U.S. capital with senior officials in the Trump administration. His meetings included Secretary of State and acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.
In a post on the X platform, the Saudi minister said the talks addressed “prospects for the strategic partnership between the two countries” and efforts to support regional and international security and stability.
Prince Khalid bin Salman arrived in Washington on Thursday evening on a visit whose duration was not announced. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said the trip aims to review bilateral relations and discuss issues of mutual interest. However, its timing coincided with an unprecedented escalation in U.S. rhetoric toward Iran, giving the visit political dimensions that go far beyond protocol.
In this context, Axios reported that senior defense and intelligence officials from both Israel and Saudi Arabia are holding intensive talks in Washington regarding the escalating tension with Iran, as Middle Eastern capitals remain on high alert amid the possibility of a U.S. strike on Tehran.
This escalation comes as Iran faces renewed domestic unrest and popular protests that authorities met with repression, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to heighten his rhetoric and hold Tehran responsible for what he described as serious human rights violations.
In recent days, Riyadh has intensified its diplomatic outreach to contain the escalation. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman informed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during a phone call, that the Kingdom would not allow its airspace to be used should the United States decide to carry out a military attack on Iran.
As part of the same effort, the Saudi defense minister met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, where both sides discussed regional and international developments. Graham described the meeting as “great” and praised the Saudi minister’s capabilities, according to a Saudi statement. Several senior Saudi officials also took part in the meetings, including Ambassador to Washington Princess Reema bint Bandar.
These moves come amid the absence of serious negotiations between Washington and Tehran and the escalation of mutual threats. Iranian officials have warned of an “immediate, comprehensive, and unprecedented response” if their country is attacked, hinting that US bases in the region would be targeted. In contrast, the White House says Trump has not yet made a final decision. Until then, the coming few weeks are decidedly tense.
International relations researcher Salem Al-Yami believes that Saudi Arabia “finds itself well positioned to play a mediating role” given its good relations with both sides. He explained that Saudi-Iranian relations since 2023 have seen “growing development and stability,” while ties with Washington enjoy “strength and significant strategic coordination.”
The Saudi defense minister visited Tehran in April 2025, where he met Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and delivered a written message from King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The visit—described at the time as significant—was the first by a senior Saudi official to meet the Iranian Supreme Leader since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
Prince Khalid bin Salman said then that the meeting addressed bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern, while Khamenei expressed his conviction that relations between the two countries “represent a shared interest.”
Although no official confirmation was issued, the visit sparked widespread speculation about a possible Saudi role in conveying indirect messages between Washington and Tehran, or in seeking to prevent the outbreak of a military confrontation.
Al-Yami describes Saudi efforts to reduce tensions between Tehran and Washington as “good-faith initiatives” that do not aim to exert pressure on either side.
For his part, military and political analyst Mohammed Al-Qubaiban said the Saudi defense minister’s visit to Washington came to reaffirm Riyadh’s position – alongside other Arab states – that “the military option does not constitute a viable path” in dealing with Iran.
Al-Qubaiban noted that past experience has shown that armed conflicts “only complicate crises,” while negotiations remain “the most realistic path” to reaching settlements.
He added that the continuation of certain Iranian policies, particularly regarding uranium enrichment, could push the region toward unwarranted tensions, making dialogue – even if prolonged—the best option.
The roots of the current crisis date back to 2018, when the Trump administration, during its first term, withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement and reimposed severe sanctions on Iran under a policy of “maximum pressure.” Tehran later responded by reducing its nuclear commitments and raising enrichment levels, while stressing that these steps are “reversible” if sanctions are lifted.
Against this backdrop, opportunities for mediation remain limited but still possible. Saudi Arabia, according to expert assessments, is not seeking to impose solutions, but rather to prevent a slide toward open confrontation in a region that once again stands on the brink of a broader escalation.
Alhurra
Sakina Abdallah
A Saudi writer, researcher, and TV presenter
