Saudi Arabia Urges US to Intensify Military Campaign Against Iran
A Saudi intelligence source has confirmed that the kingdom has urged the United States to ramp up its military attacks against Iran, according to recent reports. The source verified reporting from the New York Times which detailed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, has pressed former President Donald Trump not to curtail the war against Iran. The crown prince reportedly characterized the US-Israeli campaign as a "historic opportunity" to fundamentally remake the Middle East's geopolitical landscape.
Confirmation and Escalation Calls
The intelligence source clarified that Riyadh is not merely advocating for the continuation of the military campaign but is explicitly calling for its intensification. This confirmation aligns with Trump's own remarks to journalists, where he appeared to acknowledge the crown prince's stance, stating, "Yeah, he's a warrior. He's fighting with us." The nearly four-week-old conflict has not yet seen active Saudi military involvement, but analysts suggest the kingdom is poised to join directly if ongoing peace efforts, led by Pakistan, ultimately fail.
Historical Rivalry and Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia and Iran have long been entrenched as regional rivals, each claiming leadership roles within the Sunni and Shia Islamic worlds, respectively. This rivalry is deeply historical. A leaked US State Department cable from 2008 revealed that the crown prince's paternal uncle, the late King Abdullah, once urged the US military to "cut off the head of the snake," a direct reference to Iran's theocratic regime in Tehran. This historical context underscores the persistent and intense nature of the regional power struggle.
Broader US Political Context
The revelation about Saudi Arabia's stance emerges amidst a complex US political landscape. In related developments, House Republicans have rejected a Senate-passed funding package for the Department of Homeland Security, a move that jeopardizes efforts to end a prolonged partial government shutdown. This shutdown has resulted in thousands of DHS employees missing paychecks and has caused significant travel disruptions due to extended airport security lines.
Furthermore, the FBI confirmed that Iran-linked hackers breached the personal email of FBI Director Kash Patel, publishing photographs and documents online. In foreign policy, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington expects its operation against Iran to conclude in "weeks, not months," despite ongoing regional violence and threats from Israel to expand its attacks.
Additional Domestic and Security Incidents
Domestically, documents have surfaced showing the Trump-era Environmental Protection Agency relied on industry science to weaken regulations on formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. In election-related news, an 80-year-old Florida lawyer with ties to Trump has advocated for an emergency executive order to overhaul US voting rules. A near-miss incident involving a United Airlines flight and a US military helicopter in California is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Other notable events include a Guardian investigation into a modeling executive's links to Jeffrey Epstein, a California sheriff's escalation of a ballot materials conflict, a US Secret Service agent's self-inflicted injury, reports of the defense secretary blocking military promotions, and the foiling of an assassination plot against a Palestinian American activist in New York.
