Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, conveyed a stern message to Iranian officials during a high-level visit to Tehran in April, which was “accept President Donald Trump’s offer to negotiate a nuclear agreement or risk a potential Israeli military strike.”
According to a recent Reuters report, acting on behalf of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the 89-year-old monarch sent his son to caution Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, about the pressing need to engage constructively in nuclear discussions. This initiative was prompted by concerns over growing instability in the region, as per Gulf and Iranian sources familiar with the situation.
The private meeting occurred on April 17 in Tehran’s presidential compound and involved President Masoud Pezeshkian, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Although Prince Khalid’s visit was publicly reported, the details of King Salman’s confidential message had not been previously revealed.
Per the report, Prince Khalid, who previously served as Saudi ambassador to Washington during Trump’s first term, cautioned that the U.S. president had little tolerance for extended negotiations. Trump had announced just days prior that direct talks with Tehran were in progress, aimed at restricting Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
His announcement was made during a press event alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Washington to push for a more confrontational approach toward Iran.
During the meeting, Prince Khalid emphasized that the opportunity for diplomacy would be brief and that an agreement would be preferable to the alternative: a potential Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities if negotiations collapsed. The Saudi minister highlighted that the region, already destabilized by conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, could not withstand further escalation.
This visit was the first in over two decades that a senior Saudi royal had traveled to Iran, highlighting the importance of the message. Once fierce adversaries who backed opposing sides in regional conflicts, Riyadh and Tehran began reconciling in 2023 after a China-brokered deal that restored diplomatic relations.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
