Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman stated during a private meeting in Washington on January 31 that U.S. President Donald Trump’s refusal to strike Iran would strengthen the Islamic Republic. The remarks followed a closed-door briefing where Prince bin Salman emphasized that if Trump does not fulfill his threats against Iran, the regime will grow more powerful over time.
Prince bin Salman also indicated that while the president might be compelled to take military action within weeks, efforts must be made to avoid heightened regional tensions.
U.S. officials reported on January 30 that President Trump had been presented with an expanded list of potential military measures against Iran, including raids on Iranian facilities. Furthermore, White House officials were reportedly considering targeted strikes against high-level Iranian leadership figures to create internal political upheaval.
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth stated on January 29 that Iran still has the opportunity to reach a diplomatic agreement with the United States but must abandon its nuclear program for this to occur. He also confirmed that the U.S. military would carry out any orders from the president.
