MbS allegedly urged Trump to avoid massive strikes on Iran: Axios

❗️MbS allegedly urged Trump to avoid massive strikes on Iran: Axios ▪ According to two US officials and a third source familiar with the call cited by Axios, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) spoke with President Trump on Saturday, expressing concern over plans for major new US strikes against Iran and urging him to de-escalate. ▪ One US official told Axios that "the Saudis expressed concern and asked for clarity about the plan of action," while another source said MbS specifically urged Trump to refrain from launching the strikes. ▪ Axios also reported that Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met US officials earlier in the week to convey Riyadh's preference for "de-escalation" despite recent joint US-Saudi strikes on pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. ▪ According to Axios, Qatar, Turkiye, Pakistan, and the UAE are also pushing for de-escalation, while Qatari-mediated talks involving Iran, the US, and Oman are ongoing.