In a rare and significant diplomatic move, Saudi Arabia's Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, delivered a pointed warning to Iranian officials last month regarding the urgency of accepting US President Donald Trump's nuclear negotiation proposal. During a closed-door meeting at Iran's presidential compound on April 17, the prince emphasized that failure to engage seriously with the deal could provoke an Israeli military strike.
According to four sources familiar with the meeting, including Gulf and Iranian officials, the discussion took place with key Iranian leaders present: President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Prince Khalid, 37, who previously served as Saudi ambassador to Washington during Trump's first term, underlined Trump's impatience with drawn-out diplomacy and stressed that the timeframe for a nuclear agreement was rapidly closing.
This visit marked the first time in over two decades that a senior Saudi royal directly engaged with Iranian leadership, underscoring Riyadh's growing concern over rising regional tensions. Prince Khalid's message was clear: if Tehran did not seize the opportunity to negotiate with the Trump administration, it risked provoking an Israeli military response—an outcome Saudi Arabia is keen to prevent.
The warning follows Trump's public announcement of direct talks with Tehran aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. This announcement occurred in Washington in the presence of the Israeli Prime Minister, who was lobbying for support to strike nuclear sites in Iran.
Iranian President Pezeshkian expressed willingness to negotiate but raised doubts about the Trump administration's unpredictable diplomatic posture. Iranian officials affirmed their desire for sanctions relief but maintained they would not agree to fully dismantle uranium enrichment activities. To date, five negotiation rounds have occurred, but critical disagreements, especially over enrichment limitations, persist.
Recent reports suggest Iran might consider suspending uranium enrichment if the US unfreezes Iranian assets and acknowledges Iran's right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes. However, Iranian authorities have publicly denied any plans to pause enrichment activities.
Following a 2023 China-brokered détente, Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations after years of rivalry. Nonetheless, Riyadh and other regional powers remain cautious about Tehran’s long-term intentions, perceiving Iran as potentially destabilizing if mishandled.
(With inputs from Reuters)
