WASHINGTON: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held an urgent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, during which he reportedly delivered a special message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to U.S. media reports.
The reports said the purpose of the meeting was to convey the Saudi leadership’s message directly to the U.S. administration amid ongoing regional tensions.
Earlier, Prince Khalid also met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, where he emphasized that Saudi Arabia seeks to reduce tensions with Iran and supports efforts aimed at regional stability.
According to U.S. media, the Saudi defense minister said that Iran-backed Iraqi militias had crossed a “red line” by allegedly targeting infrastructure and energy facilities, prompting Saudi Arabia to respond.
However, Prince Khalid reportedly stressed that Saudi actions in Iraq were not intended to escalate tensions, but rather to demonstrate that the Kingdom was prepared to defend its interests and security.
The reports further quoted the Saudi minister as telling Vice President Vance that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was advocating for increased pressure and escalation with Iran, while Saudi Arabia believed that reducing tensions remained the more beneficial course.
Citing unnamed sources, U.S. media also reported that Saudi Arabia’s military actions in Iraq were intended to send a message to the Houthi movement. Prince Khalid reportedly told U.S. officials that Saudi Arabia possessed the capability to deal with the Houthis independently.
According to the reports, the Saudi defense minister said U.S. military intervention was not currently required regarding the Houthi issue, adding that talks with the Houthis were continuing.
Neither the White House nor Saudi authorities had issued a detailed official statement on the reported discussions at the time of publication. Several of the reported remarks were based on U.S. media reports citing unnamed sources and had not been independently verified.
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