Saudi Arabia denies lobbying Trump to strike Iran

2026-03-02 - 03:53

WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has denied claims that it lobbied US President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran, calling recent reports suggesting otherwise false.Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said the Kingdom has consistently supported diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a credible agreement with Tehran.“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been consistent in supporting diplomatic efforts to reach a credible deal with Iran,” Nazer said in a statement posted on social media.“At no point in all our communication with the Trump Administration did we lobby the President to adopt a different policy.”His remarks came in response to a report by The Washington Post, which cited four people familiar with the matter as saying President Trump launched strikes on Iran after a weeks-long lobbying effort by Israel and Saudi Arabia.The report also said US intelligence assessments saw no imminent threat but that regional allies argued in favor of military action.Saudi Arabia’s statement underscored its long-standing position advocating dialogue and diplomatic solutions to regional tensions, while rejecting assertions that it pushed for a shift toward direct military confrontation.The Kingdom has repeatedly called for de-escalation and a political resolution to disputes involving Iran, emphasizing stability and security across the region.