Saudi crown prince warns Trump against reported Iran strike plans

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman voiced concern to US President Donald Trump during a Saturday telephone call over reported plans for new large-scale strikes on Iran, as Washington reportedly prepares for potential military action against Tehran, according to the Axios website.

Riyadh urges de-escalation

The call came as the United States is reportedly preparing a large-scale attack on Iran, prompting security alerts from American embassies across the Middle East warning of "unforeseen escalation." Speaking to Axios on condition of anonymity, one US official said the crown prince directly addressed the strike plans with Trump. "The Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action," the official told the outlet.

A second source familiar with the conversation said Mohammed bin Salman urged the US president to de-escalate the situation and refrain from launching military strikes against Iranian targets. The White House and the Saudi Embassy in Washington both declined to comment on the reported exchange.

Tehran warns of retaliation

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in separate calls with his Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi counterparts that any aggression by Washington and its allies would be met with a "decisive and proportionate response" from Tehran. The diplomatic outreach occurred a day after Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" amid rising tensions, with US missions issuing security alerts advising American citizens to exercise caution due to the risk of sudden military escalation.